Community based distribution programs: description and findings.

Currently there are 4 Community Based Distribution Projects (CBDs) in Korea operating in diverse settings using different delivery systems and testing disparate hypotheses. CBDs aim to maximize access of low income people to family planning by training community people to act as distributors; offering services and supplies free or at nominal charge; eliminating or reducing paperwork procedures and waiting time at clinic projects; and increasing public awareness and knowledge of available family planning services. 4 CBD projects in current operation are: the Korean Population Policy and Program Evaluation Study; the CBD of Contraceptive Pilot Project; The Alternative Delivery System Project Utilizing Tong and Ban Chiefs; and the Womens Church Organization Delivery Project. Each project is briefly described in this paper as are the strengths and weaknesses of each. From the findings policy and administrative implications were drawn: 1) female sterilization would raise contraceptive prevalence rates to estimated saturation level; 2) a big market exists for high quality pills and condoms attractively packaged and priced; 3) red tape hampers contraceptive acceptance in Korea and record-keeping is a serious problem in CBD programs; 4) another serious program problem is the low morale of distributors; 5) paying distributors to maintain their participation in the program does not seem necessary; 6) due to high turnover rates among fieldworkers it is difficult to supervise adequately CBD distributors; 7) due to the nature of Korean urban environment it seems impractical to use the door to door approach of canvassing followed by a switch to depot resupply. To meet service needs of increasing number of eligible women in the 80s establishment of a large scale network of volunteer family planning and health auxillaries is recommended.