Expanding contraceptive choice

Expanding the range of contraceptive options helps individuals to make choices appropriate to their needs and circumstances, allows them to switch from one method to another if desired, and reflects a program focus on quality and rights. This policy brief outlines policy and program considerations in order to establish and maintain well-functioning supply chains for an expanded choice of contraceptives: introducing new contraceptive technologies to satisfy the diverse preferences of women and their partners; overcoming access barriers to existing methods such as adverse economic and social circumstances, including gender norms; and maximizing the potential of expanded contraceptive choice by ensuring a robust supply chain and improving provider training and counseling

Partnering with the private sector to strengthen provision of contraception

Family planning is most successful when clients have a variety of methods to choose from and a variety of service delivery sites from which to obtain them. The private sector plays a critical role in family planning and can contribute to a total market approach to providing contraceptives. Among private sector service options, social marketing, social franchising, and pharmacies and drug shops most readily contribute to sustainable markets for contraceptive services. Corporate sector workplace programs also show promise for reaching millions of women. This evidence brief outlines a number of policy and program considerations for countries as they move toward their FP2020 goals and increase domestic resources to do so, where the private sector is a critical partner

Accelerating uptake of voluntary, rights-based family planning in developing countries

This brief summarizes evidence on the benefits of family planning for girls and women, their children, families, and societies. It also provides evidence on the cost-effectiveness of family planning programs; discusses reasons for unmet need for contraception and identifies ways to reduce unmet need and discontinuation; and describes progress in meeting FP2020 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To meet the FP2020 and SDGs, significant investments are required by countries and donors in the following priority areas: sustainable financing, reaching all adolescents, expanding availability of services to the poorest and hard-to-reach populations, improving the quality of services, increasing the range of methods available, strengthening procurement procedures and supply chains, broadening social and behavior change communication interventions, and sustaining research and development investments in contraceptive methods and their delivery

Potential Role of Traditional Birth Attendants in Neonatal Healthcare in Rural Southern Nepal

The potential for traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to improve neonatal health outcomes has largely been overlooked during the current debate regarding the role of TBAs in improving maternal health. Randomly-selected TBAs (n=93) were interviewed to gain a more thorough understanding of their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding maternal and newborn care. Practices, such as using a clean cord-cutting instrument (89%) and hand-washing before delivery (74%), were common. Other beneficial practices, such as thermal care, were low. Trained TBAs were more likely to wash hands with soap before delivery, use a clean delivery-kit, and advise feeding colostrum. Although mustard oil massage was a universal practice, 52% of the TBAs indicated their willingness to consider alternative oils. Low-cost, evidence-based interventions for improving neonatal outcomes might be implemented by TBAs in this setting where most births take place in the home and neonatal mortality risk is high. Continuing efforts to define the role of TBAs may benefit from an emphasis on their potential as active promoters of essential newborn care

Potential Role of Traditional Birth Attendants in Neonatal Healthcare in Rural Southern Nepal

The potential for traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to improve neonatal health outcomes has largely been overlooked during the current debate regarding the role of TBAs in improving maternal health. Randomly- selected TBAs (n=93) were interviewed to gain a more thorough understanding of their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding maternal and newborn care. Practices, such as using a clean cord-cutting instrument (89%) and hand-washing before delivery (74%), were common. Other beneficial practices, such as thermal care, were low. Trained TBAs were more likely to wash hands with soap before delivery, use a clean delivery-kit, and advise feeding colostrum. Although mustard oil massage was a universal practice, 52% of the TBAs indicated their willingness to consider alternative oils. Low-cost, evidence-based interventions for improving neonatal outcomes might be implemented by TBAs in this setting where most births take place in the home and neonatal mortality risk is high. Continuing efforts to define the role of TBAs may benefit from an emphasis on their potential as active promoters of essential newborn care

Partenariat avec le secteur privé pour renforcer la fourniture de la contraception

Ce document fait partie de l’un des sept Résumés des preuves sur la planification familiale préparés dans le cadre du Sommet de la planification familiale tenu à Londres le 11 juillet 2017. Les résumés mettent en exergue les éléments de preuve et fournissent des considérations sur la recherche et les programmes pour améliorer l’accès à la planification familiale et réduire les grossesses non désirées. Les considérations relatives aux programmes sont basées sur les opinions expertes des auteurs, qui ont procédé à des examens documentaires sur la base des preuves existantes. --- This is one of seven Family Planning Evidence Briefs prepared for the Family Planning Summit held in London on July 11, 2017. The briefs highlight evidence and provide research and program considerations for improving access to family planning and reducing unintended pregnancy. Program considerations are based on the expert views of the authors, who undertook desk reviews drawing on existing evidence

Élargissement du choix des contraceptifs

Ce document fait partie de l’un des sept Résumés des preuves sur la planification familiale préparés dans le cadre du Sommet de la planification familiale tenu à Londres le 11 juillet 2017. Les résumés mettent en exergue les éléments de preuve et fournissent des considérations sur la recherche et les programmes pour améliorer l’accès à la planification familiale et réduire les grossesses non désirées. Les considérations relatives aux programmes sont basées sur les opinions expertes des auteurs, qui ont procédé à des examens documentaires sur la base des preuves existantes. --- This is one of seven Family Planning Evidence Briefs prepared for the Family Planning Summit held in London on July 11, 2017. The briefs highlight evidence and provide research and program considerations for improving access to family planning and reducing unintended pregnancy. Program considerations are based on the expert views of the authors, who undertook desk reviews drawing on existing evidence

Unpacking the barriers to reproductive health services in Ghana: HIV/STI testing, abortion and contraception

Youth report embarrassment, cost, and poor access as barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Interventions to address barriers like youth friendly services have yet to conclusively demonstrate impact on protective behaviours like condom or contraceptive use. SRH encompasses a range of services so we aimed to assess how perceived barriers differed depending on the service being sought between common services accessed by young people: HIV/STI testing, abortion, and contraception. 1203 Ghanaian youth were interviewed. Data was analysed to identify barriers by service type, demographics, and between high and low HIV prevalence communities. Being embarrassed or shy was the most commonly reported barrier across services. Overall being embarrassed or shy, fear of safety, fear of family finding out and cost were the most reported barriers across all services. Further analysis by service indicated that being embarrassed was a significantly greater barrier for HIV/STI testing and contraception when compared with abortion (p<0.001) and safety concerns and cost were significantly greater barriers for abortion and contraception compared with HIV/STI testing (p<0.001). Efforts to develop interventions that consider the service being sought may help address the range of barriers faced by youth with diverse SRH needs. (Afr J Reprod Health 2016; 20[2]: 53-61).Keywords: Barriers, HIV/AIDS/STIs, Abortion, Contraception, Ghana, Yout