Task Forces Gender, Access, and Quality of Care Task Force Gender and HIV/AIDS Task Force Men and Reproductive Health Task Force Research/Evidence- Based Task Force				Home > About > Task Forces > Gender, Access. and Quality of Care Task Force Gender, Access, and Quality of Care Task Force Purpose This task force examines the linkage between gender and quality of care through: Understanding current thinking and practices in the field regarding the integration of a gender perspective into reproductive health (RH) programs at different program levels; Proposing a programmatic framework for integrating gender perspectives. Activity This joint IGWG and Maximizing Access and Quality (MAQ, www.maqweb.org) activity (the first joint initiative that the IGWG has undertaken) will provide information for a programmatic framework that identifies strategies and possible "best practices" for integrating gender perspectives into interventions designed to improve quality and access. PowerPoint presentation on the GAQ project (PPT: 150KB). Objectives Examine current perspectives and practices in field programs regarding the integration of a gender perspective into RH programs and how this fits with current approaches to improve "quality" and "access." Identify how knowledge and understanding of the concepts of quality, access and gender may vary among different levels of staff both within a program and across RH programs. Methodology Qualitative study, being implemented by POLICY Project (www.policyproject.com) through local research organizations Three countries: India, Kenya, Guatemala Two/three types of programs: public sector, NGOs, women's NGOs Levels of staff: program director; clinical/medical technical staff, clinical supervisor, health care provider (in-depth interviews) Clients: women and men Review of program documents Timetable India and Kenya: fieldwork completed; data being analyzed and final reports drafted Guatemala: report being drafted. For more information, contact Kellie Stewart at kstewart@usaid.gov.