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International Public Health

Emergency Contraception

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Introduction Of Emergency Contraceptive Pills (Ecps) Through Lady Health Workers (Lhws) Program In Pakistan: Findings Of An Evaluation Study, Arshad Mahmood, Yasir Bin Nisar Jan 2012

Introduction Of Emergency Contraceptive Pills (Ecps) Through Lady Health Workers (Lhws) Program In Pakistan: Findings Of An Evaluation Study, Arshad Mahmood, Yasir Bin Nisar

Reproductive Health

This report documents the findings from a five-day study tour of Pakistani officials to Bangladesh, organized by the Population Council, to afford an opportunity for representatives of both the Ministry of Health and Population Welfare to learn from the experience of Bangladesh in introducing emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) through their National Public Health System. One of the recommendations was to enhance the availability of emergency contraception in Pakistan by making it available through outlets of the health system, especially through the network of the community-based Lady Health Workers (LHWs). There is a high unmet need for ECP in LHW areas, …


Providers' Attitudes And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In India: Key Findings, M.E. Khan, Isha Bhatnagar, Deepthi S. Varma, Anvita Dixit Jan 2012

Providers' Attitudes And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In India: Key Findings, M.E. Khan, Isha Bhatnagar, Deepthi S. Varma, Anvita Dixit

Reproductive Health

This policy brief reports key findings of a study in India that explored providers’ knowledge of how emergency contraception (ECP) works and its safety and effectiveness, their perceptions of the frequency of repeat use, their provision of ECP, and their attitudes toward women who seek it. Many of the findings of this study are encouraging. Most providers believed that ECP is an effective and safe method to prevent pregnancy and that it cannot induce abortion, and half supported the over-the-counter provision of ECP. Nevertheless, the study revealed many biases and gaps in knowledge. Recommendations include a number of ways to …


Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In India: Final Survey Report, M.E. Khan, Deepthi S. Varma, Isha Bhatnagar, Anvita Dixit, Martha Brady Jan 2012

Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In India: Final Survey Report, M.E. Khan, Deepthi S. Varma, Isha Bhatnagar, Anvita Dixit, Martha Brady

Reproductive Health

The Population Council undertook this study to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding emergency contraception (ECPs) among providers in public and private facilities and pharmacies in India. This study’s objectives were: 1) to assess providers’ knowledge of ECP’s biological mechanism; 2) to understand providers’ knowledge and attitudes about ECP’s safety, effectiveness, and availability as an over-the-counter drug; and 3) to identify providers’ definitions of “repeated use” and profiling of women who are “repeated users” of ECP. The study recommends intervention programs and advocacy strategies to increase knowledge and access to ECP.


Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In Senegal: Key Findings, Babacar Mane, Martha Brady, Saumya Ramarao, Fatou Bintou Mbow Jan 2012

Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In Senegal: Key Findings, Babacar Mane, Martha Brady, Saumya Ramarao, Fatou Bintou Mbow

Reproductive Health

This study examines providers’ and key opinion leaders’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) in Senegal, and synthesizes the findings to suggest program and policy recommendations. Analysis of providers’ opinions and beliefs reveals that although many providers believe ECP is a safe product, persistent negative views remain. KOLs and providers recognize the importance of ECP for preventing unintended pregnancy and are supportive of the integration of ECP into national guidelines. They note, however, the need to improve accessibility and quality of provision. Given the magnitude of sexual violence and abuse, considerable interest exists in devising strategies …


Attitudes, Croyances Et Pratiques Des Leaders D'Opinion Clés (Loc) Et Des Prestataires Sur La Contraception D'Urgence (Cu) Au Sénégal, Babacar Mane, Saumya Ramarao, Martha Brady, Fatou Bintou Mbow, Ababacar Thiam Jan 2012

Attitudes, Croyances Et Pratiques Des Leaders D'Opinion Clés (Loc) Et Des Prestataires Sur La Contraception D'Urgence (Cu) Au Sénégal, Babacar Mane, Saumya Ramarao, Martha Brady, Fatou Bintou Mbow, Ababacar Thiam

Reproductive Health

In Senegal, initiatives for mainstreaming the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) in the family planning program are fairly recent. Service statistics indicate, however, that ECP distribution through the public sector is very low. While most users access ECPs through the private sector, the volume of sales is not clear, due to the absence of an operational information system of EC distribution through pharmacies. In an effort to strengthen EC provision in Senegal and reposition EC within the FP program, the Population Council conducted a study in collaboration with the Reproductive Health Division of the Ministry of Health, Senegal to document the …


Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Concerning Emergency Contraception: A Multicountry Study In India, Nigeria, And Senegal, Martha Brady, M.E. Khan, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Babacar Mane, Ian Askew, Saumya Ramarao Jan 2012

Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Concerning Emergency Contraception: A Multicountry Study In India, Nigeria, And Senegal, Martha Brady, M.E. Khan, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Babacar Mane, Ian Askew, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The Population Council conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, multicountry study in India, Nigeria, and Senegal aimed at understanding the attitudes, beliefs, and practices of providers and key opinion leaders (KOLs) regarding the provision and use of emergency contraception (ECP). The overarching goal of this study was to investigate and document providers’ attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding ECP, and to capture the opinions and insights of providers and KOLs on a range of policy and program issues. Findings indicate that many provider-related barriers can be overcome through implementation of targeted interventions such as training and values clarification, whereas other barriers will require …


Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In Nigeria, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Araoyinbo Idowu, Ayodeji Oginni Jan 2012

Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In Nigeria, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Araoyinbo Idowu, Ayodeji Oginni

Reproductive Health

Despite significant progress in product development, procurement, and distribution in the past few decades, emergency contraception’s (EC) capacity to benefit many women in countries such as Nigeria is hampered by a number of potential barriers, that are not well understood. The Population Council, with support from the International Consortium for Emergency Contraception, documented EC-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among providers in Nigeria as well as perceptions of key opinion leaders who help shape the policy environment for EC and family planning in general. Findings suggest significant gaps in Nigeria, potentially necessitating continuous training and re-training to help dispel misperceptions and …


Key Opinion Leaders' Views Regarding Emergency Contraception In India, M.E. Khan, Isha Bhatnagar, Deepthi S. Varma, Anvita Dixit Jan 2012

Key Opinion Leaders' Views Regarding Emergency Contraception In India, M.E. Khan, Isha Bhatnagar, Deepthi S. Varma, Anvita Dixit

Reproductive Health

This policy brief explores the views of key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the field of reproductive health and family welfare on provision of emergency contraception (ECPs). The study’s objective was to gain a better understanding of how the attitudes and beliefs of KOLs might influence policy and program implementation, either encouraging or opposing ECP promotion and service delivery. Results suggest strong support by the majority of KOLs to continue the sale of ECP as an over-the-counter drug. KOLs also emphasized the importance of comprehending and addressing the main barriers to ECP provision and use: poor knowledge, lack of training, moral …


Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In Nigeria: Key Findings, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Araoyinbo Idowu, Ayodeji Oginni Jan 2012

Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Regarding Emergency Contraception In Nigeria: Key Findings, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Araoyinbo Idowu, Ayodeji Oginni

Reproductive Health

This brief reports on a study in Nigeria to document provider attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding emergency contraception (ECP), and to identify key opinion leaders’ opinions and insights pertaining to policy and programmatic issues in that country. Findings reveal that ECP is well known in urban Nigeria. Its provision is controlled mainly by the largely unregulated and unmonitored private sector. Government plays a distant role, thereby leaving family planning and ECP supply almost entirely in the hands of donor agencies. For wider availability and affordability of ECP products in both the private and public sectors, official policy action is required, …


Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Of Providers And Key Opinion Leaders On Emergency Contraception In India, M.E. Khan, Deepthi S. Varma, Isha Bhatnagar, Anvita Dixit, Martha Brady Jan 2012

Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Of Providers And Key Opinion Leaders On Emergency Contraception In India, M.E. Khan, Deepthi S. Varma, Isha Bhatnagar, Anvita Dixit, Martha Brady

Reproductive Health

The Population Council undertook this study to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding emergency contraception (ECP) among providers in public and private facilities and pharmacies in India. The objectives of the study were to: assess providers' knowledge of ECP's biological mechanism; understand providers' knowledge and attitudes about ECP's safety, effectiveness, and availability as an OTC drug; and identify providers' definitions of “repeated use” and profiling women who are “repeated users” of ECP. This study's findings show that most providers, including doctors and some KOLs, were incorrectly informed about ECP's mechanism of action. Service guidelines are necessary for accurate and …


Emergency Contraception: Idea To Program, Saumya Ramarao, John Townsend, Sarah Raifman Jan 2010

Emergency Contraception: Idea To Program, Saumya Ramarao, John Townsend, Sarah Raifman

Reproductive Health

This report summarizes the role of the Population Council in generating evidence, providing technical leadership, and demonstrating at scale that emergency contraception (EC) can be easily integrated into national family planning programs and other reproductive health services. Since the 1990s, the Population Council, along with other partners, has contributed to the changes seen in the provision and availability of EC, now available in over 140 countries around the world. While much progress has been made in the campaign for access to EC, the Council is committed to improving existing methods of service delivery and to leading advocacy efforts and research …


Mainstreaming Emergency Contraception Pills In Kenya, Jill Keesbury, Monica Wanjiru, Katherine Maina Jan 2010

Mainstreaming Emergency Contraception Pills In Kenya, Jill Keesbury, Monica Wanjiru, Katherine Maina

Reproductive Health

To improve access to emergency contraception (ECP) and ensure that adequate information is provided to all users, the Kenyan Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, the Population Council, and Population Services International-Kenya undertook a three-year effort to mainstream ECP in Kenya. This brief presents the results of this initiative and discusses strategies for further strengthening ECP provision. Kenya has emerged as a leader in ECP programming in the region and has demonstrated that it is possible to strengthen ECP services in both the public and private sectors while at the same time increasing public awareness, knowledge, and use of the …


Introduction Of Emergency Contraceptive Pills In The Public Health System Of Pakistan: A South-To-South Collaboration, M.E. Khan, Gul Rashida, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Ali M. Mir, Ubaidur Rob Jan 2008

Introduction Of Emergency Contraceptive Pills In The Public Health System Of Pakistan: A South-To-South Collaboration, M.E. Khan, Gul Rashida, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Ali M. Mir, Ubaidur Rob

Reproductive Health

This report describes a south-to-south collaboration to assist the Ministry of Health of Pakistan to introduce emergency contraception (EC) into its family planning program, supported by the Population Council’s USAID-funded Frontiers in Reproductive Health (FRONTIERS) program. The collaboration consisted of a three-day visit by senior managers from the Pakistani health authorities to Bangladesh to familiarize them with the EC program in that country, followed by a two-day consultative meeting in Islamabad to draw up concrete plans for introduction of the method into the Pakistan system. Participants at the consultation developed plans to introduce EC into both community-based distribution and clinical …


Provision Of Emergency Contraceptive Services Through Paraprofessionals In India, Shiv Kumar, Chander Shekhar, N.K. Gupta, Malabika Roy, M.E. Khan, Mary Philip Sebastian, Rukma Idnani, Ardash Bhargava, Vinita Salvi Jan 2007

Provision Of Emergency Contraceptive Services Through Paraprofessionals In India, Shiv Kumar, Chander Shekhar, N.K. Gupta, Malabika Roy, M.E. Khan, Mary Philip Sebastian, Rukma Idnani, Ardash Bhargava, Vinita Salvi

Reproductive Health

In 2004, with funding for technical assistance provided by USAID, the Indian Council of Medical Research funded and collaborated with the Frontiers in Reproductive Health (FRONTIERS) program of the Population Council on a two-year study to assess the usefulness and effectiveness of using paraprofessionals in educating and providing emergency contraception (ECP) services to potential users. Based on the findings and advocacy efforts, the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare introduced ECP as an over-the-counter medication beginning in September 2005. This made it possible for paraprofessionals in the National Family Planning Program to provide ECP services, making the method widely …


Informing The Medical Community In Guatemala About Emergency Contraception, Edgar Kestler, Lilian Ramirez Jan 2004

Informing The Medical Community In Guatemala About Emergency Contraception, Edgar Kestler, Lilian Ramirez

Reproductive Health

The general purpose of this project was to increase the awareness of and access to emergency contraception (EC) among the medical community in Guatemala. Specific project objectives included: 1) training three physicians as trainers in all aspects of EC; 2) adapting and disseminating scientific literature and informational materials about the method and about EC programs in Latin America and worldwide; and 3) training at least 250 participants about the characteristics of emergency contraception, its mechanisms of action, and counseling techniques. The project concluded with several lessons for improving dissemination and policy, including: the dissemination workshops had a positive effect on …


Mexico: Informing Service Providers And Factory Workers About Emergency Contraception, Ricardo Vernon Jan 1999

Mexico: Informing Service Providers And Factory Workers About Emergency Contraception, Ricardo Vernon

Reproductive Health

The goal of this project was to inform physicians, pharmacists, and female factory workers about emergency contraception (EC) through mailings of booklets and posters. These materials were developed in a previous operations research project conducted by the Instituto Mexicano de Investigación de Familia y Población and supported by the Population Council INOPAL III project with funding from USAID. The study found that recipients generally liked the print materials and welcomed information about EC. Within three weeks of receiving the materials, many reported that they had taken immediate action to make EC available and/or to educate others about EC. This project …