Title: Profile of Liberia on IEC management in population programs.

POPLINE Document Number: 049674

Author(s):

Sherman JW

Source citation:

[Unpublished] 1986. Presented at the 1986 ICOMP Biennial International Conference, San Jose, Costa Rica, May 1-4, 1986. 10, [1] p.

Abstract:

Only about 5% of women in Liberia of child-bearing age who need family planning services have access to such services. A recent study on adolescent sexuality in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, revealed that lack of information and unavailability of services accounted for 90% of contraceptive nonuse. In rural areas of the country, there is a belief that a large number of children have high economic value-- daughters bring dowries while sons help with farm work. There is a high infant mortality rate, and parents tend to have many children with the hope that some will survive to adulthood. The society looks with disfavor on those sought to be infertile or unable to have children as often as other persons of similar age. And political leaders are reluctant to advocate any policies on family planning. Given this cultural environment, communications components are essential to any effective family planning programs. Radio and television would be ideal media for publicizing family planning information, but commercial broadcasting is expensive and public service spots are limited. The press cannot be utilized effectively in a country with a literacy rate of 25%. The only communications tool utilized to any extent by family planning programs in Liberia is interpersonal contact through clinic and home visits, lectures, and counseling. But there is little supervision of such contacts and a virtual absence of systematic evaluation to determine the impact of these contacts on family planning services. Agencies in Liberia providing family planning services such as the Family Planning Association of Liberia (funded by IPPF) and the government's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare should build effective communications programs to improve their services.

Keywords:

Liberia
Needs
IEC
Home Visits
Information Distribution
Government Agencies
Education
Culture
Communication
Population Control
Family Planning Policy
Family Planning Programs
Family Planning Program Evaluation
Mass Media
Radio
Television
Newspapers
International Agencies
Developing Countries
Africa, Western
Africa South of the Sahara
Africa
Economic Factors
Program Activities
Programs
Organization and Administration
Organizations
Population Policy
Social Policy
Policy
Family Planning
Broadcast Media
Printed Media