Integration of an essential services package (ESP) in child and reproductive health and family planning with a micro-credit program for poor women: Experience from a pilot project in rural Bangladesh

In early 1992, a two-phased pilot project, initially integrating a micro-cr edit program for poor women with a family planning and expanded program of immunization (EPI) (in the first phase) and subsequently and incrementally with an essential services package (ESP) in reproductive and maternal and c hild health (in the second phase), was initiated in rural Bangladesh. Data on the project show that there has been a significant increase in contracep tive use and a decline in fertility since the initiation of the first phase of the project. There also has been an increase in the dissemination of in formation on, and utilization of, ESP medical technologies in the intervent ion community at large. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.