Action research to enhance reproductive choice in a Brazilian municipality: the Santa Barbara project.

This book chapter describes a broad experiment to improve the quality and quantity of reproductive health services provided by the municipal health sector in Santa Barbara dOeste Brazil. An intensive participatory process was initiated to involve providers their supervisors municipal authorities community members and researchers in a guiding executive committee. The committee reviewed diagnostic research revealing substantial barriers to access deficiencies in quality and inefficient use of medical personnel. Moreover the committee identified and instituted key interventions to address these problems.