Validation and use of educational promotion materials by health personnel

Achieving application of the reproductive risk focus in Mexican Institute of Social Security family planning services requires providing training in its use to members of the health team and reinforcing information and communication to the population served. In designing family planning information and promotional materials for the IMSS some operational characteristics of the program had to be considered. Information and communication activities are essentially provided by paramedical personnel who are familiar with the use of promotional devices such as pamphlets and audiovisual aids. 3 types of low cost materials were designed posters containing basic information to familiarize the population with the term reproductive risk and relating it to family planning and health benefits a pamphlet designed to provide brief but precise information on reproductive risks and the advantages of family planning in case risk factors are found and a flip chart structured as a sequence of descriptions of the principal risk factors and the relationship between family planning and protection of health. The flip chart was designed for group meetings. The posters were placed in facilities serving mothers and children and in family medicine waiting rooms. The pamphlets were initially given to all fertile-aged women consulting IMSS medical units but it was observed that many women failed to read them. Subsequently the strategy was modified and medical assistants began reviewing the pamphlets with each woman. Nurses reviewed the pamphlet with each patient in the obstetrical services. The roles of films was limited due to their expense and technical requirements. Differences between knowledge and use of promotional materials in Aguascalientes and in other delegations were attributable to the special training received by personnel in Aguascalientes the monthly verification of educational and promotional activities in Aguascalientes and the greater frequency of educational promotion activities in Aguascalientes. In Aguascalientes 167 medical assistants nurses and social workers interviewed 1 month after promotional activities began all knew about and used the materials and considered them useful for family planning promotion. 602 nurses social workers and medical assistants from delegations outside Aguascalientes who did not receive the special training or supervision were interviewed 6 months after receiving the new promotional materials in an effort to assess their use in routine practice. 91.4% knew about the materials but only 89.9% of these reported they were actually available for use. 93.5% of the 541 who reported materials available stated they used them.