Impact of Public Health Policy on Reproductive Health and Family Planning

This article examines the impact of public health policy on reproductive health and family planning. It discusses the local, national, and global implications of the policy, the role of politics and public involvement, the evidence base for the policy, and the process of translating the policy into practice. The article also highlights the specific population affected by the policy.

Public Health Policy

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
a. Identification and critical analysis of a public health policy, highlighting local, national and
global implications of the policy on a specific population..........................................................1
b. Critical discussion of the role of politics and public involvement in public health policy.....3
c. Critical evaluation of the evidence base for the policy and discussion of the process of how
the policy can be translated into practice.....................................................................................4
d. Critically discuss how the public health policy may impact on the specific population
identified......................................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Health policy is defined as the actions, plans and decisions which are undertaken to accomplish
the goals of health care within a society. It is a science of protecting and enhancing the health of
individuals and communities. An explicit policy of health can accomplish several things by
defining a vision for future which supports in establishing targets and reference points for
medium and short term. The public health efforts involve educating people regarding healthy
choices, preventing diseases outbreaks, promoting fitness and physical activities, preventing
spread of infectious diseases, preparing for emergency, treating water with fluoride for dental
and oral health, ensuring safe water and food in communities, preventing injury and discouraging
the use of tobacco and developing smoke-free environments (Bellows, and et. al., 2016). Public
health policy promotes healthy behaviours as well as change conditions (economic, social and
environmental) to enhance the health of overall population. The policy which is taken into
consideration in this report is associated with reproductive health and family planning. This
report covers critical analysis of public health policy as well as local, national and global
implications of policy on a particular population. Apart from this it also includes discussion of
role of politics in public health policy and the public involvement in policy. Moreover, the
evaluation of evidence-based for policy and the discussion of processes of the way policy can be
translated into practice are discussed. At last, the discussion about the way public health policy
main influence on particular population is covered in the report (Brittain and et. al., 2015).
MAIN BODY
a. Identification and critical analysis of a public health policy, highlighting local, national and
global implications of the policy on a specific population
In United Kingdom, the labor government introduced a 10-year teenage pregnancy policy
in order to address the historical high rates in the country and reduce social exclusion. It involves
comprehensive program of action surrounding 4 themes: better prevention by improved
relationships and sex education as well as access to effective contraception; coordinated support
for young parents; joined up action at local and national level; and a communications campaign
in order to reach parents and young people (Bongaarts, 2014). By regional local and national
structures, the policy was implemented with dedicated funding for the duration of 10 years. By
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the execution of this policy, dark conception rate under 18 was reduced steadily. There are
various interconnected factors due to which the rates of teenage pregnancy are influenced. This
intervention of government of England, United Kingdom has successfully declines the teenage
pregnancy rates. In year 2016, under 18 conception rate was 18.8 conceptions among per
thousand women who are aged 15 to 17 years. This was the lowest rate in comparison to the data
recorded from previous years (Eva, Quinn and Ngo, 2015).
Reproductive health is crucial to accomplish the goals of agenda for sustainable
development in year 2030. Reproductive health is defined as the state of complete mental,
physical and social wellbeing. This is not only the absence of infirmity or disease, in all matters
associated two reproductive systems as well as its processes and functions. The reproductive
health care involves access to variety of good quality services and information including
education and services for safe delivery, parental care and postnatal care; prevention and
treatment of infertility; family planning counselling, education, information, communication and
services involving access to effective and safe contraceptive methods; prevention and treatment
of sexually transmitted diseases, reproductive tract infections as well as other reproductive health
conditions; counselling, information and education as appropriate on responsible parenthood,
reproductive health and human sexuality; prevention of unsafe abortion as well as administration
of its consequences; and prevention of harmful practices like female genital mutilation.
The government have adopted a policy which aims at enhancing the sexual and
reproductive health of adolescents. In this policy the measures considered are enforcing the
minimum age marriage, administering school based sexual education and expanding secondary
school enrollment of girls (Farmer and et. al., 2015). At the regional level, adoption of these
measures improving sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. At the global level, all the
governments adopt the measure of providing school based education of sexuality as an
intervention. This helps in aware the girls about the sexual and reproductive health. The
implications of adolescent pregnancy are profound. During the pregnancy and childbirth, the
adolescence who are used between 15 to 19 years are twice as possibly to die in comparison to
the women who is aged older than 20 years. The girls who are under 15 years of age are 5 times
more possibly to die at the time of pregnancy and childbirth. Providing them with the means to
accomplish high health standards, by ensuring equality, confidentiality, privacy and non-
discrimination is crucial for protecting and respecting globally accepted rights of humans.
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The policy associated with reproductive health and family planning will help in
introducing financial burden on the population at local, regional and national level. This policy
helps in reducing global maternal mortality rate and ensuring improved care. Proper policy
supports the healthcare organisation to providing effective services related to reproductive health
and family planning which in turn helps in improving reproductive health of population
(Gaffield, Egan and Temmerman, 2014).
b. Critical discussion of the role of politics and public involvement in public health policy
In health affairs, politics play a crucial role in determining the way citizens as well as
makers of policy recognize and define issues with existing policies and social conditions, and
supporting several types of public health interventions and in developing challenges in policy
execution. Proper understanding of political dimensions of issues and proposed solutions is very
necessary for public health professionals. Public health involves governmental actions to develop
outcomes or health promotion. Political community stresses shared bond with members in order
to accomplish public health. There are several reasons behind becoming public health a political
issue. The institutional and individual actions open develop spillover effects among which some
are beneficial and some are harmful. The source of incrementalism is institutional structure of
political system which disperses capacity as well as power for policy development.
In effective implementation of public health policy associated with reproductive health and
family planning, there are various barriers or challenges that government face. These barriers
include lack of value placed on prevention, complex and messy process of policy making,
insufficient evidence base, mismatched horizon of time, lack of skills among practitioners to
impact evidence-based policy and power of vested interests. All these are the various barriers
that influence the successful execution of health policy (Gavin and et. al., 2015).
Laws are often unclear due to lack of expertise or information among legislators and staff
to design policies with accuracy. The negotiating cost of the political agreement as well as costs
of information regarding policy performance will highly impact the way legislators are able and
keen to stipulate both the goals and objectives of a new policy as well as procedures for
implementation. Public health referred as the evidence based profession system dedicated to
prevent disease and enhance health. The political process is the way diseases associated with
public policy like regulations, allocation of scarce resources, tax policies and laws are made
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through elected officials. The political decision making regarding policies at puzzle when the
advocates dismiss the responsibility or role of other factors in the process of decision making.
The elected officials have good motivation to work appropriately with public health officials in
order to seek effective approaches that helps in declining cost and improving health outcomes.
The role of elected leaders is to sustain and improve health of people and for maximize success
they require strong partnership with the officials of public. The political and public officials
work together to develop confidence through seeking shared goals as well as inclusive processes
in order to examine alternative solutions to policy (Hardee and et. al., 2014).
Government creates family planning policies to direct program design and execution. the
policies can have both unintended and intended consequences. This resulted in requirement of
periodic revision to accomplish desired outcomes. In past some years, increased attention is
being provided to public involvement in the policy of healthcare. It referred as the involvement
of lay individuals in strategic decision regarding health policy and services at national a local
level. It is the inclusion of public in decision making related to their health as it may result in
more democratic process of decision making and therefore better accountability. Involvement of
public in health policy is a constantly growing field and multifaceted. In ensuring human right in
provision of family planning, active involvement of people has been recognised as a crucial
principal. Their participation is seen as a precondition for sustainable development as well as
ensures good quality healthcare. The application sustainability of health policy may increase
with the engagement of public in its development and execution. The involvement of public in
the health policy ensure effective development and execution of policies that mitigates and needs
of public appropriately and ensures better health outcomes (Mbizvo, and Phillips, 2014).
c. Critical evaluation of the evidence base for the policy and discussion of the process of how the
policy can be translated into practice
Reproductive and sexual health is very fundamental to all individuals couples’ family and
most importantly to women. there are several strategies and interventions taken by EU
government and WHO.
Reproductive health strategy is developed by WHO, Geneva the department of
reproductive health and research Development and training in human reproduction. The strategy
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of reproductive health was developed to accelerate progress towards the attainment of
international development and goals.
The women's right and gender equality committee of European parliament explode and
updated knowledge on division of sexual education and reproductive rights in the European
Union. The strategy adopted was of sex and relationship education (SRE). The aim and objective
of this strategy is that sexual education programs a very important for public in order to increase
awareness among them and to provide them appropriate knowledge (Muhindo and et. al., 2015).
Similarity:
The Reproductive health strategy of WHO and Sex and relationship education policy of
European Union are similar as their motives and goal is to provide appropriate knowledge to all
individuals couples families and in women’s about reproduction and pregnancy planning. The
goal of both the policies is to accelerate the progress towards attainment of international
development and social development goal of reading in keeping people informed about sexual
and pregnancy problems and other consequences.
Difference:
The difference given by WHO and developed by European Union is that the reproductive
health strategy was developed by world health organisation with the motive of acceleration in
international development and spreading awareness among people of all countries related to
refractive health and pregnancy planning. On the other hand, the strategy developed by European
Union named as sex and relationship education was established with the motive of educating the
people of Europe in relation with sexual education and reproductive rights.
The public involvement and the role of political parties and their ideologies made them
use different approaches to the policy implementation which are beneficial and relevant towards
the policies and public health prospective (RamaRao and Jain, 2015). The world health
organisation creates supportive legislative and regulatory frameworks in order to appropriately
implementation and execution of their policies and strategies for creating awareness in people
about their reproductive and sexual health. According to these frameworks the world health
organisation suggests to remove all unnecessary restrictions from the policies in order to create a
supportive framework for reproductive and sexual health significantly contributed to improve
access services. Along with it few regulations are needed for the commodities such as medicines
equipment and other supplies are made available to people on consistent and equitable basis so
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that the international quality standards can be met. Additionally, regulatory environment is also
developed for ensuring public and private sector accountability for providing high quality care
and services for all the population belonging to different segments and regions of the countries.
The public health policies which are developed by EU and WHO for respective
populations are beneficial for the development and progress of the country and their people but
there are few challenges or barriers which are entering the progress of these health strategies and
policies. One of the most influential and common barrier which is faced by both the
organisations while implementing health policies related to reproduction and sexual rights is
inequalities related to genders (Stanback, and et. al., 2015). Gender disparities in health are
spiking families invest less in nutrition health Care school and vocational training for girls in
comparison with boys. Also sex discrimination and low social status of women is frequently
increasing and resulting in poor physical and mental health along with emotional abuse which is
providing them low level of control on their own lines and more importantly on the sexual and
reproductive decisions.
d. Critically discuss how the public health policy may impact on the specific population
identified
There are various factors that impacts the interpretation and execution of health policies.
Socio cultural factor is one of the factor that needs to be taken into consideration while
implementation of health policy. In each cultural group event, birth and pregnancy show
differences. In society, proper conditions for bringing child to world, how birth will be, the
parent and postnatal care standards, perhaps changing from generation to generation. The
economic conditions of society such as employment opportunities, income distribution etc.,
Family structure, beliefs of society, gender roles, marriage models, sexual behaviour vary from
community to community (Stevens, 2015). So it is necessary to taken into consideration the
factor interpretation and execution of health policy related to reproductive health and family
planning. Having of good religious’ identity influence willingness of female to discuss
contraception with their family, partner’s unwillingness to taken into consideration accessing it.
Apart from this, education is also the another factor that requires to be taken into consideration.
The education of women has higher influence on health indicators and is the common
determinant of utilisation of contraception as well as unmet need. The attitude of women towards
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family planning is influenced through experience is like pregnancy and education. So education
is one of the factor that needs to be taken into consideration while developing policy. The policy
must be developed in such a manner it helps in educating women about their reproductive health
and family planning.
Execution is the procedure of turning policy in to practice. In order to ensure effective
execution of policy, clear and consistent objectives, committed and skilful implementing
officials, support from legislators and interest groups, good coordination and communication,
attitude availability of resources and time etc. are the factors that are required to taken into
consideration (White, and et. al., 2015). Interpretation of policy needs translation of knowledge
about interventions in to a specific local context. The factors which take into account at the time
of interpreting health policy involves local resources involving infrastructure and human
resource, baseline incidence of health issue, local changes in likely effectiveness of specific
interventions, specific characteristics of population and the latency tenure before impact of
intervention will be seen. All these factors that take into account at the time of interpretation and
execution of public health policy. Some of the common barriers to effective execution of health
policy involves circumstances extrinsic to executing agency impose crippling constants, non-
availability of needed combination of resources, multiple dependency relationships, lack of
adequate amount of time and resources, implemented policies not based on valid theory,
imperfect coordination and communication, poor understanding of objectives and the task are not
fully specified in the proper sequence. All these are the barriers that may face by the health
official at the time of interpreting and implementing policies. Proper execution of healthcare
policies helps in ensuring good health of people and community (Goldberg and et. al, 2015).
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report it has been concluded that public health policy is the
policy that help in improving health of people or community. The results of good health are not
only get from proper medical care but it also requires the efforts to craft and execute public
programs and policies in order to protect and enhance the health of all individuals. The expected
roles and priorities of different groups are outline by health policy and develops a consensus as
well as informs people. It is a system that is designed community, nationwide and state-wide
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conditions which prevent disease, promote health and encourage healthy behaviours all across
the entire population.
It is recommended that there should be a strong legal protection for adolescents against rape,
child marriage and other forms of violence which are gender based. Adequate laws need to be e
developed and executed in order to prevent adolescent from any kind of disparities. Apart from
this, providing proper education regarding reproductive health and family planning will also help
in reducing the risks associated with these and ensuring health and well-being of people at all
levels.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bellows, B., and et. al., 2016. Family planning vouchers in low and middle income countries: a
systematic review. Studies in family planning, 47(4), pp.357-370.
Bongaarts, J., 2014. The impact of family planning programs on unmet need and demand for
contraception. Studies in Family Planning, 45(2), pp.247-262.
Brittain, A.W., and et. al., 2015. Youth-friendly family planning services for young people: a
systematic review. American journal of preventive medicine, 49(2), pp.S73-S84.
Eva, G., Quinn, A. and Ngo, T.D., 2015. Vouchers for family planning and sexual and
reproductive health services: a review of voucher programs involving Marie Stopes
International among 11 Asian and African countries. International Journal of
Gynecology & Obstetrics, 130, pp.E15-E20.
Farmer, D.B., and et. al., 2015. Motivations and constraints to family planning: a qualitative
study in Rwanda’s southern Kayonza District. Global Health: Science and Practice, 3(2),
pp.242-254.
Gaffield, M.E., Egan, S. and Temmerman, M., 2014. It's about time: WHO and partners release
programming strategies for postpartum family planning. Global Health: Science and
Practice, 2(1), pp.4-9.
Gavin, L.E., and et. al., 2015. Programs to strengthen parent–adolescent communication about
reproductive health: a systematic review. American journal of preventive medicine, 49(2),
pp.S65-S72.
Goldberg, D.G., and et. al, 2015. The organization and delivery of family planning services in
community health centers. Women's health issues, 25(3), pp.202-208.
Hardee, K., and et. al., 2014. Voluntary, human rights–based family planning: A conceptual
framework. Studies in family planning, 45(1), pp.1-18.
Mbizvo, M.T. and Phillips, S.J., 2014. Family planning: choices and challenges for developing
countries. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 28(6), pp.931-
943.
Muhindo, R., and et. al., 2015. Predictors of contraceptive adherence among women seeking
family planning services at Reproductive Health Uganda, Mityana Branch. International
Journal of Population Research, 2015.
RamaRao, S. and Jain, A.K., 2015. Aligning goals, intents, and performance indicators in family
planning service delivery. Studies in family planning, 46(1), pp.97-104.
Stanback, J., and et. al., 2015. WHO tiered-effectiveness counseling is rights-based family
planning. Global health: science and practice, 3(3), pp.352-357.
Stevens, L.M., 2015. Planning parenthood: Health care providers' perspectives on pregnancy
intention, readiness, and family planning. Social science & medicine, 139, pp.44-52.
White, K., and et. al., 2015. The impact of reproductive health legislation on family planning
clinic services in Texas. American journal of public health, 105(5), pp.851-858.
Online
Reproductive Health Policies, 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/policy/
reproductive_health_policies_2017_data_booklet.pdf>
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