USING SELF-ASSESSMENT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF FAMILY-PLANNING CLINIC SERVICES

A follow-up study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a self-asses sment technique called COPE (client-oriented, provider-efficient) on t he quality of family planning clinic operations in Africa. In 1991 the Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception revisited 11 clinics where it had introduced COPE from five to 15 months earlier. Changes that had occurred as a result of the COPE intervention were assessed b y (1) determining how many of the clinic problems identified by staff at the COPE introduction had been solved; (2) comparing the results of a second client-flow analysis with the initial analysis; and (3) inte rviewing service providers to obtain their opinions of the effects of COPE. Of the problems identified by staff nearly three-fourths of thos e that could be solved internally were solved. The study revealed impr ovements in the quality of care provided as well as increased staff in volvement in solving clinic problems.