Assessing the potential market for a progesterone contraceptive vaginal ring (PCVR) as a new contraceptive option in sub-Saharan Africa using needs-based market segmentation
Developing countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, have disproportionately high unmet contraceptive needs compared to other regions, and especially high levels of unmet need for spacing pregnancies. To address some of sub-Saharan Africa’s barriers to effective contraception, there is renewed focus on new methods that offer greater ease of use. New methods under investigation would not require daily action, their use would be controlled by women themselves, and they would require no medical providers or significant health-system infrastructure for service delivery. Contraceptive vaginal rings hold great potential by offering not only ease of use but a safe and effective FP solution. The Population Council has developed a variety of vaginal rings for reproductive health. The progesterone contraceptive vaginal ring (PCVR) was designed exclusively for lactating women’s postpartum family planning (PPFP). The PCVR works with the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) to enhance LAM’s pregnancy protection. The Population Council is studying the potential market in Kenya, Nigeria, and Sénégal. The market segmentation analysis presented in this report will clarify the PPFP landscape in these three countries and aid PCVR’s effective introduction
