Family Planning and Reproductive Health
- Faith-Based Advocacy for Family Planning Works: Evidence From Kenya and Zambia
Faith-based organizations and religious leaders can be effective family planning advocates for policy change, funding, and services. To do so, they need evidence-based knowledge, training, support within their faith communities, as well as respect for their beliefs and values.
- Use of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods for Pregnancy Prevention Among Ghanaian Women: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Survey
At least 18% of Ghanaian female contraceptors rely primarily upon a fertility awareness-based method (FABM), and most wish to learn how to improve its effectiveness but are insufficiently supported to do so. Researchers, programmers, and funders should better understand and address FABM users' needs, in commitment to reproductive autonomy and choice.
- Economic Evaluation of Provision of Postpartum Intrauterine Device Services in Bangladesh and Tanzania
Provision of a postpartum intrauterine device (PPIUD) within 48 hours of delivery was highly cost-effective compared with standard practice in 2 lower middle-income countries. Policy makers should consider expansion of postpartum family planning counseling and introduction of immediate PPIUD services as an added tool to address the unmet need for contraception.
- Expanding Contraceptive Method Choice With a Hormonal Intrauterine System: Results From Mixed Methods Studies in Kenya and Zambia
Although the hormonal intrauterine system has limited availability in low- and middle-income countries, this highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptive method has the potential to be an important addition to the method mix. Introduction of the method in the public sector under “real-world” conditions in Kenya and Zambia shows promise to increase contraception use and continuation.
- Meeting the Global Target in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Care Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
What progress has been achieved toward reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health service related Sustainable Development Goals? Analyzing data to estimate coverage of these indicators, we observed that acceleration is needed in coordinated global efforts and government policies to ensure universal access to RMNCH care services by 2030.
- Contraceptive Method Mix: Updates and Implications
Trends in contraceptive method mix show that dominance of 1 method in the mix remains very common, though countries and regions throughout the world are diverse as to which method is dominant. Our analysis argues for continued concerted efforts of programs to increase contraceptive method choice.
- Effects of a Community-Based Program on Voluntary Modern Contraceptive Uptake Among Young First-Time Parents in Cross River State, Nigeria
Among young first-time mothers, participation in a comprehensive, community-based program led to a 3-fold increase in voluntary modern contraceptive use and other positive changes. These results demonstrate the importance of investing in interventions for this youth population that ideally address a range of priorities across the first-time parent lifestage.
- Routine Family Planning Data in the Low- and Middle-Income Country Context: A Synthesis of Findings From 17 Small Research Grants
A review of 5 years of small grant-funded research highlighted overarching barriers to and opportunities for using family planning data in routine health information systems in low- and middle-income countries. We report on factors affecting data quality, analysis, and use, and suggest strategies to improve routine family planning data.
- Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions for Improving Contraceptive Use in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review
Do mHealth interventions help reduce unmet contraceptive needs in low- and middle-income countries by attempting to increase the uptake of modern contraceptive methods? Which mHealth features and behavior change communication components were used in these mHealth interventions? This review aimed to answer these questions and assess the impact of these interventions on contraceptive uptake outcomes.
- Factors Associated With Delayed Contraceptive Implant Removal in Ethiopia
Women receiving implant insertion at the community level were significantly more likely to report keeping their implant for more than 3 years. Even when a referral or back-up system for removals existed, efforts to task-shift the provision of contraceptive implants may have inadvertently led to extended implant use.