Michelle Obama In Bubble Letters

Consultants, 186 closures in two years no money and staff

Born 35 years ago as a garrison in the territory, now often carry on with the difficult task of helping women, couples and families: confined spaces, a shortage of pediatricians and nurses. The crisis is national with the exception of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and Sardinia, where the network grows

of ADELE SARNO

ROME - Few, less and less and with a small staff. The family planning clinics (Cf) in Italy should be at least three thousand, but there are more than two thousand. And the number of those active in the national territory decreases instead of increasing: in 2007 there were 2,097 in 2009, 1911. In two years then they were closed or merged 186. These are the figures from the report of Ministry of Health Organization and activities of public family planning clinics in Italy - 2008 ", presented today in Rome during the national convention of the Italian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SIGO). The survey for the first time try to focus on the reality of public clinics distributed throughout the country.

"The family counseling - says John Ascone, the Ministry of Health, Director of the Office for the protection of women's health and developmental - is the place of prevention and treatment of distress related to life cycle couples and staff and between the mandate of the primary support for the woman and the family and in particular to parenthood. Despite efforts to deliver effective services, the number of family planning clinics has gone over the years against a little 'for bundling, a bit 'for real closure. "

And so, 35 years after their establishment, the clinics are not able to meet the needs of the population. According to Law 34 of 1996, should be one for every 20 thousand inhabitants in the cities and one in every 10 thousand in rural areas, for a total of more than three thousand structures. But, according to figures from the ministry, are 1911. In 2007 there was an average of one clinic per 28,431 inhabitants, in 2009 this ratio declined to one for every 31,197. Only Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and Sardinia have increased the network, while all other regions are still lagging behind. The one with more counseling is Emilia Romagna, which has 210 structures, while the slow lane of the Molise is that it has seven.

"Over time, the family planning clinics were neither enhanced nor adequately exploited - John says Ascone - in several cases interest around their work was poor and has resulted in the failure to bring the resources, network services, staffing, locations.

A major problem in fact, the report says, is the lack of staff. This makes it difficult to teamwork in many structures consultoriali. According to the project goal for Childcare 2000 (Pomi) who wanted to revitalize the role of consultants, there should be six or seven people for counseling, but only 21% of clinics reaches Italian that level. In 45% of the cases the clinic has a team of 4-5 figures, with which you can do a job "sufficient but incomplete." Only 4% of cases These eight professionals, in 21% there are 6-7 people, 23% in one to three. The figures seem to be more present: the midwife, psychologist, social worker and gynecologist. In short supply are: pediatricians, pediatric nurses and health assistants.

For operators, however, the quality of the registered consultoriale is considered "good" in 55% of cases, mediocre for 29% and only 3% of the seats consultoriali is called decay. What's advisory services is not only an issue of personnel, but also economic and quality of facilities. Only in six regions (Piedmont, the Province of Bolzano, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Marche and Sicily) is in all local health budget constraints for the activities of consultants.

When considering the places, it is noted that only half of the clinics has 5 rooms. 26% of the regions has a number of structures with 3-4 rooms, which could "not be sufficient" to carry out all activities consultoriali properly. 15% of CF has a number of places between one and two and in Piedmont and Umbria, this percentage exceeds 50%. But, according to the law, these structures should have the following: for the reception of local users, and voice information, the local diagnostic and therapeutic counseling, visits to local pediatric and obstetrical-gynecological, local meetings, the archive space.

Well, only the Valle d'Aosta, Autonomous Province of Bolzano to Trento, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Sardinia and Sicily have an average of more than 50% of clinics with five or more rooms. 18% of the Regions has not even sent a reply on this question.

(December 15, 2010)