Elements of Family Planning Success

Ensuring that family planning service providers have the necessary support to offer quality services is a challenge for program managers. Most programs do not have adequate resources to provide refresher training, follow-up and supervision to their service providers, which can result in poor quality of care. As the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University has worked with NGOs and ministries of health around the world to scale up the Standard Days Method® (SDM), a consistent challenge has been obtaining follow-up support for providers. To address this issue, the Institute developed an instrument called the Knowledge Improvement Tool (KIT), which allows supervisors to quickly identify gaps in knowledge of SDM providers, allowing them to provide targeted, effective support during routine supervisory visits. Operations research has demonstrated the effectiveness of the KIT in improving and maintaining SDM providers' knowledge. However, in practice the KIT has been applied in different ways: individually, in group settings, and provider to provider. The objective of this study was to assess the cost effectiveness of these different approaches and compare it to taking no action at all. The study showed that follow-up is necessary and that the most cost-effective approach is the group KIT refresher training. Programs which already actively supervise service providers through an individualized approach should consider a similar strategy for SDM providers using the KIT, as this strategy yielded superior results in terms of provider competence. (author's)

With a view to developing health systems strategies to improve reach to high-risk groups, we present information on health and survival from household and health facility perspectives in five districts of southern Tanzania. We documented availability of health workers, vaccines, drugs, supplies and services essential for child health through a survey of all health facilities in the area. We did a representative cluster sample survey of 21,600 households using a modular questionnaire including household assets, birth histories, and antenatal care in currently pregnant women. In a subsample of households we asked about health of all children under two years, including breastfeeding, mosquito net use, vaccination, vitamin A, and care-seeking for recent illness, and measured haemoglobin and malaria parasitaemia. In the health facility survey, a prescriber or nurse was present on the day of the survey in about 40% of 114 dispensaries. Less than half of health facilities had all seven 'essential oraltreatments', and water was available in only 22%. In the household survey, antenatal attendance (88%) and DPT-HepB3 vaccine coverage in children (81%) were high. Neonatal and infant mortality were 43.2 and 76.4 per 1000 live births respectively. Infant mortality was 40% higher for teenage mothers than older women (RR 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-1.7), and 20% higher for mothers with no formal education than those who had been to school (RR 1.2, CI 1.0-1.4). The benefits of education on survival were apparently restricted to post-neonatal infants. There was no evidence of inequality in infant mortality by socio-economic status. Vaccine coverage, net use, anaemia and parasitaemia were inequitable: the least poor had a consistent advantage over children from the poorest families. Infant mortality was higher in families living over 5km from their nearest health facility compared to those living closer (RR 1.25, CI 1.0-1.5): 75% of households live within this distance. Relatively short distances to health facilities, high antenatal and vaccine coverage show that peripheral health facilities have huge potential to make a difference to health and survival at household level in rural Tanzania, even with current human resources. (author's)

Maternal mortality is greatest in poor countries and it is in exactly these countries that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) poses an added challenge in attaining the Millennium Development Goals. The prevalence of HIV infection in many poor countries continues to rise. South Africa is an example of how some of the challenges can be addressed. Recommendations by the South African National Committee on the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths stressed the importance of addressing the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care of women, laying emphasis on the need for societal support, including nutritional and emotional support, reproductive health services including contraception, provider-initiated counselling and testing (PICT) and prevention. Antenatal care needs to be targeted for support and early intervention when abnormalities are detected, including the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy when necessary. Intrapartum care needs to be conducted in a hygienic environment with access to operative delivery. More attention needs to be paid to postpartum care because most women tend to succumb to puerperal sepsis. Ethical principles must be upheld when managing women with HIV infection. (author's)

Observations in several Western countries point toward a decline in semen quality which may be associated with exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors such as several frequently used pesticides. The scarce literature on the effects of pesticides on male fertility will be reviewed with a focus on semen quality and time-to-pregnancy. The majority of studies published since 2000 reported some effects of pesticide exposure on semen quality or time-to-pregnancy. The results are not consistent, however, with some studies showing reduced sperm concentrations and others showing low percentages of morphologically normal and/or motile sperm. In time-to-pregnancy studies, reduced male fertility measured as prolonged time-to-pregnancy related to pesticide exposure was observed for first pregnancies only. Some of the inconsistencies may be explained by heterogeneity in populations, pesticide exposure, and study design. Despite this heterogeneity, the conclusion can be drawn that pesticide exposure may affect spermatogenesis leading to poor semen quality and reduced male fertility. More research is needed to unravel the pathophysiological mechanisms and the role of endocrine disruption. (author's)

The addition of a new target (5.B) to have universal access to reproductive health by 2015 to Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 "Improve maternal health" has given renewed priority to addressing care related to the health outcomes of MDGs 4 and 5, and to redressing the large disparities in coverage of health services between and within countries. The analyses and country profiles of the Countdown to 2015 papers in today's Lancet properly address the full range of necessary interventions from before pregnancy to the start of the third year of life. The original neglect of reproductive health and family planning in MDGs contributed to decreased attention, reduced funding, and increased risks for women and children. The data presented in the Countdown to 2015 paper show the effect of this lost focus. Poor sexual and reproductive health contributes to poor survival of mothers and children and to ill health among survivors, and impedes gender equality and poverty reduction. (excerpt)

Feminization and pauperization together with an increased concentration of AIDS cases in urban environments are the main characteristics of the HIV and AIDS epidemics in Argentina. Increased infection of HIV among poor young child-bearing women generates an increase in the demand for public health care and services. Although the country has had a legal framework guaranteeing reproductive health care for all women since 2002, a lack of collaboration between reproductive health services and HIV/AIDS programmes has denied women living with HIV (WLWH) access to adequate health care, particularly for their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs. Additionally, WLWH's access to information on reproductive health, family planning services, control of cervical cancer, STIs and other gynecological problems is limited. (excerpt)

Although depot-medroxyprogesterone represents a highly effective contraceptive, its use is associated with poor continuation rates. Although the major reason for discontinuation is menstrual irregularity, the time, expense and inconvenience of clinic visits also pose a barrier to use. Self-administration of the 104-mg subcutaneous formulation might make clinic visits unnecessary. Many medications can be safely self-administered by subcutaneous injection, and patient satisfaction is high. Appropriate patient selection, adequate training, use of prefilled injection devices and counseling regarding bleeding patterns are likely to maximize success rates with self-administration. By improving the convenience of this contraceptive method, self-injection might improve both compliance and continuation rates. The potential for self-administration of this contraceptive deserves formal study. (author's)

The objective was to explore use-inequity in maternal health-care services in home-based skilled-birth-attendant (SBA) programme areas in Bangladesh. Data from a community survey, conducted from February to May 2006, were analysed to examine inequities in use of SBAs, caesarean sections for deliveries and postnatal care services according to key socioeconomic factors. Of 2164 deliveries, 35% had an SBA, 22.8% were in health facilities and 10.8% were by caesarean section. Rates of uptake of antenatal and postnatal care were 93% and 28%, respectively. There were substantial use-inequities in maternal health by asset quintiles, distance, and area of residence, and education of both the woman and her husband. However, not all inequities were the same. After adjusting for other determinants, the differences in the use of maternal health-care services for poor and rich people remained substantial [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.51 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.68-3.76) for skilled attendance; OR 2.58 (95%CI: 1.28-5.19) for use of caesarean sections and OR 1.53 (95% CI: 1.05-2.25) for use of postnatal care services]. Complications during pregnancy influenced use of SBAs, caesarean-section delivery and postnatal care services. The number of antenatal care visits was a significant predictor for use of SBAs and postnatal care, but not for caesarean sections. Use of maternity care services was higher in the study areas than national averages, but a tremendous use-inequity persists. Interventions to overcome financial barriers are recommended to address inequity in maternal health. A greater focus is needed on the implementation and evaluation of maternal-health interventions for poor people. (author's)

Hormonal contraceptive use is generally characterized by poor adherence and relatively high discontinuation. This study investigated whether specific hormonal contraceptive formulations and/or delivery systems might be correlated with discontinuation of contraception. This was a retrospective descriptive analysis within a large administrative claims database. The sample included women aged 15-40 years with a pharmacy benefit and at least one new hormonal contraception prescription during the study period and no prescription in the previous 6 months. Filled contraceptive prescriptions were grouped into several categories of delivery system, dosage, progestin type and monophasic vs. triphasic formulations. In each, a baseline number of women was established who filled a first prescription for a contraceptive formulation in the specified category. Then, the percentage of these women who filled a prescription for a contraceptive in the same category within 3 months' time was determined. Continuation or change rates were compared within each group. Oral contraceptives (OCs) were the least likely to be discontinued at 3 months; injectables were the most likely. OC formulations associated with increased risk of discontinuation (odds ratios above 1.3 representing a 5% or higher increased discontinuation) included very-low-dose (20-25 mcg ethinyl estradiol) pills containing norethindrone acetate or norgestimate, as compared to a preparation with the same progestin type but with a higher dose of estrogen. Desogestrel and norethindrone-containing triphasics were more likely to be discontinued than other triphasic progestins. OC formulations with desogestrel and norethindrone/norethindrone acetate were more likely than formulations with other progestins to be discontinued overall. This investigation in a sample of nearly 250,000 women suggests possible associations between discontinuation of hormonal contraception and factors such as estrogen dosing, progestin type and changes in dosage during the cycle. Identification of factors correlated with contraceptive discontinuation may inform management and improve adherence. (author's)

Antenatal care is widely established and provides an opportunity to inform and educate pregnant women about pregnancy, childbirth and care of the newborn. It is expected that this would assist the women in making choices that would contribute to good pregnancy outcome. We examined the provision of information and education in antenatal clinics from the perspective of pregnant women attending these clinics. A cross sectional survey of 457 pregnant women attending six urban and six rural antenatal clinics in the largest health division in The Gambia was undertaken. The women were interviewed using modified antenatal client exit interview and antenatal record review questionnaires from the WHO Safe Motherhood Needs Assessment kit. Differences between women attending urban and rural clinics were assessed using the Chi-square test. Relative risks with 95% confidence intervals are presented. Ninety percent of those interviewed had attended the antenatal clinic more than once and 52% four or more times. Most pregnant women (70.5%) said they spent 3 minutes or less with the antenatal care provider. About 35% recalled they were informed or educated on diet and nutrition, 30.4% on care of the baby, 23.6% on family planning, 22.8% on place of birth and 19.3% on what to do if there was a complication. About 25% of pregnant women said they were given information about the progress of their pregnancy after consultation and only 12.8% asked their provider any question. Awareness of danger signs was low. The proportions of women that recognised signs of danger were 28.9% for anaemia, 24.6% for hypertension, 14.8% for haemorrhage, 12.9% for fever and 5% for puerperal sepsis. Prolonged labour was not recognised as a danger sign. Women attending rural antenatal clinics were two times more likely to recognise signs of anaemia and hypertension as indicative of danger compared to women attending urban antenatal clinics. Information, education and communication during antenatal care in the largest health division are poor. Pregnant women are ill-equipped to make appropriate choices especially when they are in danger. This contributes to the persistence of high maternal mortality ratios in the country. (author's)

Many governments have implemented conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes with the goal of improving options for poor families through interventions in health, nutrition, and education. Families enrolled in CCT programmes receive cash in exchange for complying with certain conditions: preventive health requirements and nutrition supplementation, education, and monitoring designed to improve health outcomes and promote positive behaviour change. Our aim was to disaggregate the effects of cash transfer from those of other programme components. In an intervention that began in 1998 in Mexico, low-income communities (n=506) were randomly assigned to be enrolled in a CCT programme (Oportunidades, formerly Progresa) immediately or 18 months later. In 2003, children (n=2449) aged 24-68 months who had been enrolled in the programme their entire lives were assessed for a wide variety of outcomes. We used linear and logistic regression to determine the effect size for each outcome that is associated witha doubling of cash transfers while controlling for a wide range of covariates, including measures of household socioeconomic status. A doubling of cash transfers was associated with higher height-for-age Z score (beta 0.20, 95% CI 0.09-0.30; p less than 0.0001), lower prevalence of stunting (-0.10, -0.16 to -0.05; p less than 0.0001), lower body-mass index for age percentile (-2.85, -5.54 to -0.15; p=0.04), and lower prevalence of being overweight (-0.08, -0.13 to -0.03; p=0.001). A doubling of cash transfers was also associated with children doing better on a scale of motor development, three scales of cognitive development, and with receptive language. Our results suggest that the cash transfer component of Oportunidades is associated with better outcomes in child health, growth, and development. (author's)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)

This report is one in a series that provides basic information about health, nutrition, and population (hnp) inequalities within fifty-six developing countries. The series to which the report belongs is an expanded and updated version of a set covering forty-five countries that was published in 2000. The fifty-six reports in the current series cover almost all DHS surveys undertaken during the period beginning in 1990 and ending with the date of the last survey for which data were publicly available as of June 2006. The report's contents are intended to facilitate preparation of country analyses and the development of activities to benefit poor people. To this end, the report presents data about hnp status, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. The source of data is the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) program, a large, multi-country household survey project. (excerpt)