RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Six Recommendations for Provider Behavior Change in Family Planning
JF Global Health: Science and Practice
JO GLOB HEALTH SCI PRACT
FD Johns Hopkins University- Global Health. Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs
SP e2200495
DO 10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00495
VO 11
IS Supplement 1
A1 Hancock, Heather
A1 Carlson, Olivia
A1 Hempstone, Hope
A1 Arnold, Bethany
A1 Hoffmann, Kamden
A1 Gul, Xaher
A1 Spielman, Kathryn
YR 2023
UL http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/11/Supplement_1/e2200495.abstract
AB Global health practitioners lack a shared understanding of provider behavior change (PBC) interventions and what influences provider behavior.Past PBC interventions in family planning and reproductive health have focused on a small subset of provider cadres and largely addressed behavioral determinants at the individual or workplace environment levels rather than the full breadth of factors that influence provider behavior, including the broader systems and contexts where providers operate.We encourage practitioners to adopt a theory-driven lens and use implementation science principles to be more intentional in designing future PBC interventions for a wider diversity of cadres and contexts, consider the full set of factors that influence provider behavior, pair provider- and client-side interventions, shift the narrative around PBC from “blaming” to supporting providers, move beyond training-only interventions, and improve the rigor of PBC intervention measurement and the evidence base.Health care provider behavior has the power to influence family planning and reproductive health outcomes positively and negatively, underlining the importance of provider behavior change (PBC) initiatives. However, global health practitioners lack a shared understanding of PBC interventions and what influences provider behavior. Furthermore, PBC interventions in family planning and reproductive health have tended to address individual and workplace environmental factors rather than the full breadth of factors that influence provider behavior, including the broader systems and contexts where providers operate. This commentary contributes to a common understanding of PBC, including the determinants of provider behavior, and describes actions to advance PBC efforts in family planning and reproductive health. To inform these considerations, we conducted a narrative review of more than 70 articles and project materials describing interventions that aimed to change provider behaviors pertaining to family planning and reproductive health and used the review to identify the most and least common provider cadres addressed, behavioral determinants targeted, and strategies implemented. We strongly encourage global health practitioners to design future PBC interventions for a more diverse set of cadres and contexts, consider the full set of factors that influence provider behavior, pair provider- and client-side interventions, shift the narrative around PBC from “blaming” to supporting providers, move beyond training-only interventions, and improve the rigor of measurement and evidence-building efforts for PBC. These considerations can be used to advance the field of PBC in family planning and reproductive health to improve outcomes across the service delivery continuum.