Jim Shelton's Pearls

---

Pearl of the Week | Archives | Español | Français

March 03, 2003

Advance Provision of OCs

I realize it is good practice for a woman to start OCs anytime one can be reasonably sure she is not pregnant, (and a simple pregnancy "checklist" can be used to rule out pregnancy.) However, many programs also give a woman OCs to take home to begin once her period starts. What do you think of that practice?

Very reasonable. Indeed such "advance provision" of OCs is standard practice in most of the world. Oddly however, a recent study in 3 African countries (Kenya, Ghana and Senegal) found that the overwhelming majority of providers were resistant to such simple "advance provision." So apparently many women are denied OCs because of this medical barrier.

Changing such provider behavior in all likelihood requires multiple interventions. However explicitly endorsing advance provision of OCs in national guidelines would be a good start.

References:
Stanback J, Janowitz B. Provider resistance to advance provision of oral contraceptives in Africa. J of FP and RH Care 2003; 29(1).

Previous | Next
Pearl Archive

The "Pearls" offer answers to commonly asked questions about family planning. These "Pearls" are prepared by Dr. James D. Shelton, Senior Medical Scientist, Office of Population, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

© 2005 The Johns Hopkins University. All rights reserved.
Security and Privacy Policy, 111 Market Place, Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21202, webmaster@jhuccp.org

Photos courtesy of Photoshare, a service of The INFO Project.