QUALITY OF CARE IN FAMILY-PLANNING-SERVICES IN MOROCCO

This study was conducted to heighten awareness of quality of care as a programmatic issue in the Moroccan governmental family planning progr am and to test modified Situation Analysis instruments for measuring q uality of care. Data were collected from 50 service-delivery points in five provinces to measure six elements of quality in accordance with the Bruce/Jain framework. A procedure for calculating quality-indicato r scores is presented. Although facilities varied by province and with in provinces, most had the equipment and supplies needed to deliver se rvices; service personnel were trained and regularly supervised; the s ervice-delivery points scored well on mechanisms to ensure continuity of use. Notable shortcomings included a dearth of materials for counse ling and a widespread unavailability of the Ovrette pill. This study r aises issues regarding the complexity of measuring quality, the owners hip of results, and the appropriateness of a centralized study of qual ity in a decentralized program.