**_Famil PlaniAg_** _Success_ **_lo Cities Xi Zaire_**

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- Clinic records and discussions with nurses revealed that many Kananga women disliked the irregular bleeding or amenorrhea caused by contraceptive injections and implants. Focus group research explored just what women found unpleasant and why, so that nurses and communicators could counsel them more effectively.

- Communicators kept notes on questions asked in public meetings and information sessions. These questions became the basis for weekly radio programs.

# _4._ **_Selecion_** _and_ **_Tring_** _of Penonnel_

The Project team members were carefully selected according to educational and family criteria and were trained locally. The Zairians, 11 women and **_5_** men, were all Kananga natives or long-time residents. Seven had university degrees In the social sciences or humanities. The three teaching nurses had high school diplomas. The other six team members had not completed their secondary school. To maximize the Project's credibility among the local population, only people who had children and were in stable family situations were hired. Nearly all were contraceptive users themselves. In addition, two expatriates worked part-time on the Project, a public health physician and an anthropologist, both with 10 years of experience in Zaire.

The Zairian team members had no previous family planning training. They were all trained for project duties in small workshops and on the job. The Project coordinator was a middle-aged Zairian woman with a graduate degree in psychology. She worked hard at building team spirit through weekly staff meetings and constant attention to personal and work-related problems. Salaries were commensurate with or slightly higher than public sector jobs; the Project offered financial incentives for overtime community work during evenings and weekends. Team-building and long-term planning was done at semi-annual team retreats.

With regard to the training of nurses from participating clinics, the approach was practical. During the two-week on-the-job training at the IMCK, these nurses learned to listen to clients, to help clients choose and use appropriate contraceptive methods, and to keep simple records on clients and supplies. Each trainee received and began using a basic clinic manual [21]. This training was reinforced by the semi-annual Saturday workshops in which the participants used the case study method [221 to review their skills and discuss problems they had experienced in their own clinics.

Some clinics also designated women "aides" to learn communication skills in family planning. During a two-week apprenticeship, these trainees worked alongside experienced Project communicators in outpatient waiting areas, well-baby clinics, maternity wards, and community meetings.

# **_5._** _Emphasis on_ **_Qualy_** _of_ **_Cwt_**

Good quality of care was defined as quick, efficient, friendly service that satisfied the clients. Project success was measured by contraceptive prevalence rates in the community, not by continued attendance at particular clinics. Nevertheless, good clinical service was seen as the basis and backup for the whole effort. The clinic staff used and taught these rules of thumb:

- Clients come for contraceptives; don't let them leave without one.

- Try to give them the methods they want.