Background/Objectives: The utilization of hormonal IUD as modern contraceptive method in Nigeria is very low (6%, NDHS2018); recent studies have revealed that insufficient counselling and absence of trained health personnel among other are key determination of IUDs service underutilization. It is very important that family planning providers are adequately trained around all aspects of service provision for the Hormonal IUD (including high-quality counselling, insertion, and removal) in the context of volunteerism and full method choice. Utilizing the Objective structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) provides an unbiased approach to assessment of healthcare workers post training.
Materials/Methods: A total of 62 healthcare providers were recruited, didactically trained, and subjected to the Objective structured Clinical examination as an unbiased approach to assess their competencies. We ensured that these healthcare providers were those who are already competent in LARC method. After the practicum training, participants were assessed across 3 stations, namely Counselling, Insertion, and removal. A standardized client was used at the Counselling station while Pelvic models and instruments were utilized at the Insertion and removal stations. An already trained OSCE study evaluator assessed the trainees across the 3 stations.
Result: The result showed that among the trainees, for the Counselling station there was an average score of 95%(Median score 97%, lowest score 81%) Insertion station average score 95% (Median score 97% lowest score 76%) Removal station average score 94% (Median score 95% lowest score 82%). In the Counselling, Insertion and Removal stations, results revealed that most trainees passed the station by successfully completing the steps.
Conclusion: The Objective structured Clinical examination can be deployed as an assessment strategy for training of Family Planning providers in Nigeria. Making use of a standard and approved checklist for the assessment has proven that the strategy when applied appropriately can provider quality Family planning providers for service provision.
