Family Planning and Reproductive Health Commodities: Mapping the Procurement Process in Different areas of Islamabad

Abstract

Objectives: To identify selling pattern, availability, per unit cost of FP commodities and their self-procurement pattern in different socio-economic variable areas.  Study Design: Descriptive Cross-Sectional study. 
Place and Duration: The survey was conducted in three regions of Islamabad including one sector (G6), one suburban area (Bhara Kahu) and one rural setting (Atthal village in Phulgaran union council) from May 2016 to August 2016. Methodology: The total sample size is 52 private sector pharmacies, chemist (medical store), general stores and others where any form of family planning commodities could be purchased including pills, condoms, injectables and Intrauterine devices (IUDs). The sample was divided in three strata i.e. urban, suburban and rural area selected on the basis of socioeconomic attributes of the region. A total number of pharmacies, chemist shops (medical stores), general stores and others (petrol pump etc.) contacted were 52 out of which 25 were in urban area, 24 were in suburban area and remaining 3 were in rural area.
Results: According to this study, 48.1% procurement is done in Stratum-I, 46.2% is done in Stratum-II and only 5.8% is done in Stratum-III. Most available pill brand in Stratum-I and Stratum-II was set of ZAFA and Green star i.e. 36% in Stratum-I and 37.5 % in Stratum-II whereas no pills were being sold in Stratum-III. In Stratum-I, both local and imported condoms were available at most of the shops while in Stratum-II, local condoms were available in highest percentage and in Stratum-III all available condoms were local products. In case of injectable, only one brand i.e. Pfizer by the name of injection Depo-Provera was available for the private sector in Stratum-I and Stratum-II. 52% of the shops in Stratum-I had injectable available, 50% of the shops had injectable in Stratum-II. In Stratum-III, there was no procurement of injectable.
Conclusion: The study indicated that urban population has more choices, more purchasing power and the gender difference for procurement is less as compared to suburban and rural area.