Author:
Megan Christofield
The introduction and scale-up of contraceptive implants have unequivocally increased access to family planning (FP) method choice around the world. Late last year, Jhpiego and Impact for Health (IHI) collaborated to document the experience of contraceptive implant introduction over the last decade (primarily through a desk review and key informant interviews) and identified recommendations to scale up implants in the private sector.
Massive improvements in our family planning (FP) supply chains in recent years have generated an expanded and more reliable method choice for women and girls around the world. But while we celebrate such success, one nagging issue that warrants attention is the corresponding equipment and consumable supplies, like gloves and forceps, necessary to administer these contraceptives: Are they also getting to where they’re needed, when needed? Current data—both documented and anecdotal—suggest that they aren’t. At the very least, gaps remain. Through a literature review, secondary analysis, and a series of workshops held in Ghana, Nepal, Uganda, and the United States, we sought to understand this situation and put forth solutions to ensure that reliable method choice is accessible to FP users around the world. This piece is based on a larger piece of work funded by the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition Innovation Fund.
Program managers and healthcare providers who offer the one-rod contraceptive implant, Implanon NXT, should be aware of recent updates that affect the product’s administration. This change is in-process around the world, including countries where Implanon NXT is available at the reduced, market access, price.
To mark International Self-Care Day, Population Services International and partners under the Self-Care Trailblazers Working Group are sharing a new Quality of Care Framework for Self-Care to help health systems monitor and support clients accessing health care on their own—without hindering clients’ ability to do so. Adapted from the Bruce-Jain family planning quality of care framework, the Quality of Care for Self-Care includes five domains and 41 standards that can be applied to a broad range of primary health care approaches to self-care.
How can self-care measures better equip us to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic? Guest contributors from PSI and Jhpiego offer insight and guidance.
Listen to “Inside the FP Story”
Grab a cup of coffee or tea and listen in on honest conversations with family planning program experts around the world as they share what has worked in their settings — and what to avoid — in our podcast series, Inside the FP Story.
Click on the image above to visit the podcast page or on your preferred provider below to listen to Inside the FP Story.
