Resource

Report

Situational Analysis of the Private Sector in the Delivery of Family Planning Services in Egypt: Current Status and Potential for Increased Involvement

The recent increase in Egypt’s total fertility rate from 3.0 in 2008 to 3.5 in 2014, along with stalling contraceptive rates and persistent unmet need for family planning (FP), highlights a need to explore new venues for providing FP services. The specific objectives of this study were to determine the size, scope, and scale of private sector FP providers (private physicians, nongovernmental organization clinics, and private pharmacies); examine the policy and regulatory environment for private provision of FP products and services; assess business, financing, and training needs of the private health sector and the potential for expanding its role in FP service provision.

The study involved: (1) a review of published and gray literature (2000-2015); (2) secondary analysis of Egypt Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data and market segmentation analysis; (3) in-depth interviews with 10 key informants from public and private sectors and development agencies; (4) in-depth interviews with 30 private sector providers; and (5) 10 focus group discussions with women who had ever used FP methods.

This report describes trends, challenges, and opportunities related to the private sector’s role in providing family planning, and presents recommendations for enhancing that role to improve access to and use of contraception by Egyptian couples.