Elements of Family Planning Success

This series is produced by the Health, Nutrition, and Population Family (HNP) of the World
Bank's Human Development Network. The papers in this series aim to provide a vehicle for
publishing preliminary and unpolished results on HNP topics to encourage discussion and
debate. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of
the author(s) and should not be attributed in any manner to the World Bank, to its affiliated
organizations or to members of its Board of Executive Directors or the countries they represent.

This new policy brief from the Population Reference Bureau highlights five “next generation” contraceptives, each of which offers one or more advantages over similar earlier methods. These innovations are among those expected to enter the market within five years and can assist country programs to make contraception more accessible and attractive to women and couples.

A new policy brief from the Population Reference Bureau looks at the effects of long-term investment in an integrated family planning and maternal and child health program. Drawing on research and data that spans more than 30 years, the evidence reinforces the importance of sustained investment in reproductive health programs, showing that families in communities where the program was implemented became wealthier and healthier than families who lived in other, similar communities.

The pilot was designed using ACQUIRE’s FP-ART integration framework, which outlines five levels of integrating FP into HIV services. Facilities can choose from the levels, and can add to them progressively, depending on their capabilities and resource (Farrell, 2007). TASO/M integrated to Level C. It provides four modern FP methods—condoms (already offered for HIV/STI prevention), oral contraceptives, injectables, and emergency contraceptive pills—along with referrals for long-acting and permanent methods (LAPMs) to the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, located a few yards from TASO/M.

In the fall of 2007, the Ministry of Health in Bangladesh faced a severe shortage of condoms in the public sector; countrywide stockouts were very likely. A shipment was underway, but despite negotiated contracts, the supplier made some last minute changes that were unacceptable to the Government of Bangladesh (GoB). While the GoB and the supplier continued to negotiate, the condom supply dwindled.

Funding for international family planning programs in developing countries has declined by 30% since the mid-1990s. Decisions by policymakers and donors to reduce investments in contraceptive services and supplies were based on plausible-sounding—but misguided—arguments. “Donor fatigue” and persistent opposition from conservative governments and institutions contribute this decline.

This Population Council news release exposes some common myths about family planning, and reveals the facts.

The intended audience for this handbook includes reproductive health (RH) program managers and government and NGO policy makers. It can be used in countries where ECPs are not currently available, as well as in contexts where the intention is to expand or mainstream access to existing ECP services. The handbook:

- Recognizes the different needs of diverse segments of the population, and places additional emphasis on targeting ECP services to “special groups,” which include rape survivors and adolescents.

"Oportunidades" is a social program run by the Mexican government that seeks to improve education, health, nutrition, and living conditions of those in extreme poverty. People supported by the program attend monthly health talks, which include information on contraceptive methods. Reduction in fertility, especially among youth, is deemed crucial to the program's goals. This report analyzes information from the Oportunidades evaluation surveys conducted between 1997 and 2000 to learn more about contraceptive method use among young women.

To better address the cost implications of investing in mothers and children, the report provides useful data on the cost-benefits of family planning programs. Long considered a "best buy" among health investments, family planning is even more important in today's financially strapped environment. As countries grapple with recession and search for better ways to stretch limited budgets, family planning stands out as one of the most cost-effective, high-yield interventions available.

This archive constitutes legacy of The ACQUIRE Project and has been designed as a searchable knowledge resource for the reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP) community. It contains a wide range of resources that were developed over the life of the project, at both the global and the country (field) levels. This content reflects the experience of programs from all regions and the outcomes of an extended global-field partnership dedicated to delivering more services to more people in more places.