Family Planning and Reproductive Health
- Re-Evaluating the Possible Increased Risk of HIV Acquisition With Progestin-Only Injectables Versus Maternal Mortality and Life Expectancy in Africa: A Decision Analysis
Our model suggests that removing progestin-only injectables in Africa would have a net negative effect on maternal health, life expectancy, and mortality under a variety of scenarios.
- Improving Contraceptive Access, Use, and Method Mix by Task Sharing Implanon Insertion to Frontline Health Workers: The Experience of the Integrated Family Health Program in Ethiopia
Between 2009 and 2015, 1.2 million women received Implanon implants from trained Health Extension Workers. Of the approximately 7,000 implant service visits made during the first 6 months, 25% were among women who had never used contraception before.
- Jordan's 2002 to 2012 Fertility Stall and Parallel USAID Investments in Family Planning: Lessons From an Assessment to Guide Future Programming
Jordan's limited method mix, which has shifted toward less effective methods such as withdrawal and condoms, is a likely contributor to the plateau, coupled with social and cultural norms that discourage contraceptive use, such as preference for large family size and pressure to have a child immediately after marriage. Greater investment in social and behavior change and advocacy for stronger programming efforts are warranted.
- Harmonizing Methods for Estimating the Impact of Contraceptive Use on Unintended Pregnancy, Abortion, and Maternal Health
Five models estimate the impact of family planning on health outcomes, but the estimates previously have diverged because the models used different assumptions, inputs, and algorithms. After a collective harmonization process, the models now produce more similar estimates although they retain some minimal differences. These models assist in planning, resource allocation, and evaluation.
- Seeking Synchrony Between Family Planning and Immunization: A Week-10 DMPA Start Option for Breastfeeding Mothers
Many mothers initiate DMPA injectables at 6 weeks postpartum, at the time of their baby's first immunization visit. Offering an optional delayed DMPA start at the next (10-week) immunization visit has potential advantages including a reduced follow-up schedule with DMPA visits synchronized with other immunization visits, and, possibly, improved contraceptive and immunization outcomes.
- Family Planning in the Context of Latin America's Universal Health Coverage Agenda
Latin American countries have expanded family planning along with universal health coverage (UHC). Leveraging UHC-oriented schemes to increase family planning program coverage, equity, and financing requires:
Prioritizing poor and indigenous populations
Including family planning services in all benefits packages
Ensuring sufficient supply of commodities and human resources to avoid stock-outs and implicit rationing
Reducing nonfinancial barriers to access
- Increasing Contraceptive Access for Hard-to-Reach Populations With Vouchers and Social Franchising in Uganda
Between 2011 and 2014, the program provided more than 330,000 family planning services, mostly to rural women in the informal sector with little or no education. 70% of the voucher clients chose an implant and 25% an intrauterine device.
- Migration Experiences and Reported Sexual Behavior Among Young, Unmarried Female Migrants in Changzhou, China
30% reported being sexually experienced, but only 38% reported using contraception at first sex and 58% consistently over the past year, leading to many unintended pregnancies and abortions. These findings document an unmet need for reproductive health education and services for young, unmarried female migrants in urban China.