The International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF-EN) intends to analyze the provision of family planning and reproductive health services in seven middle-income countries, including Azerbaijan.

This study is a joint initiative of the United Nations Population Fund Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (UNFPA EECARO) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF-EN). The study is supported financially by the United Nations Population Fund and is carried out jointly with non-governmental organizations in Kazakhstan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Armenia, cooperating with IPPF-EN. In Azerbaijan, the study is being conducted jointly with the Public Health and Reforms Center (PHRC) of the Ministry of Health. PHRC staff Gulnara Hajizade and Teymur Huseynov took part in the training on the implementation of the “Evaluation of the accessibility of Family Planning services” project, held in Belgrade on July 4-8. At the meeting, the participants analyzed the availability of family planning services in the countries they represent, and also identified the conceptual approaches of this project. At the same time, some technical aspects of the project were considered.

The main goal of the “Evaluation of access to family planning services in Azerbaijan” project is to identify the reasons for the low level of use of modern methods of contraception by the population. Within the framework of the project, on August 22-23, 2011, a training for interviewers and referents was held at the Public Health and Reforms Center of the Ministry of Health. In September-November, focus group discussions and a survey among the target audience were held. 10 focus group discussions and 25 interviews were conducted in Baku, Guba and Khachmas. Focus group discussions were held among men and women of reproductive age, as well as among young people.

Stakeholders include health professionals and decision-makers in the health system, community leaders, leaders of women's organizations, representatives of donor organizations and pharmaceutical companies. Currently, the process is at the stage of analyzing the collected material.

In early December, a meeting of representatives of the countries participating in the survey is scheduled in Istanbul, Turkey. At the meeting, the participants will exchange views on the results of the survey. The results will be presented to representatives of the United Nations Population Fund Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, and the main directions for the future strategy will be determined.

In the future, the results of the study will be used by the UN Population Fund in the preparation of relevant family planning programs in the country.