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2015

Reproductive Health

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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Kenya Adolescent Sexual And Reproductive Health Policy, Ministry Of Health Kenya Jan 2015

Kenya Adolescent Sexual And Reproductive Health Policy, Ministry Of Health Kenya

Reproductive Health

This document is a review and revision of the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy of Kenya, which involved in-depth consultations with a wide range of stakeholders through literature review, interviews, consultative meetings, and reviews of the various drafts. Many changes took place at the national and international levels that needed to be taken into account as the policy was reviewed, including the Constitution of Kenya (2010) with its attendant devolved governance structure as well as demographics, and social, economic, and technological environment. The government has made concerted efforts as part of Vision 2030 to respond to adolescents and …


Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings—Task Sharing In The Delivery Of Family Planning Programs: Experiences From Senegal, Babacar Mane, Nafissatou Diop, Saumya Ramarao Jan 2015

Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings—Task Sharing In The Delivery Of Family Planning Programs: Experiences From Senegal, Babacar Mane, Nafissatou Diop, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The Population Council is conducting activities to facilitate the introduction of vaginal rings in sub-Saharan Africa. This report notes that the first ring to be introduced will be the Council’s Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (PCVR), which is relevant in contexts where women practice prolonged lactation. The PCVR will also address the high unmet need for family planning (FP), especially for postpartum women. The Council aims to expand the availability and affordability of vaginal rings in Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. One of the challenges is the lack of skilled providers. To design plans for involving mid- and lower-level health workers in …


Promoting Respectful Maternity Care Resource Package—Alternative Dispute Resolution: Resolving Incidents Of Disrespect And Abuse, Population Council Jan 2015

Promoting Respectful Maternity Care Resource Package—Alternative Dispute Resolution: Resolving Incidents Of Disrespect And Abuse, Population Council

Reproductive Health

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a process whereby an independent and impartial third party facilitates negotiation between disputing parties, in this case to resolve incidents of disrespect and abuse (D&A) in a health care setting. In Kenya, ADR was originally used to settle land disputes and inheritance issues at the community level. The voluntary ADR mechanism brings the aggrieved parties together with an opportunity to solve problems in a locally acceptable way. ADR supports both providers’ and clients’ rights and obligations by ensuring each side is heard. This Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) resource provides guidance on the sequence of steps …


Validation Study Of Lqas-2 In Uttar Pradesh Behavior Change Management Project, Arupendra Mozumdar, Jaleel Ahmad, M.E. Khan Jan 2015

Validation Study Of Lqas-2 In Uttar Pradesh Behavior Change Management Project, Arupendra Mozumdar, Jaleel Ahmad, M.E. Khan

Reproductive Health

India’s Uttar Pradesh Behavior Change Management project studied the potential of community mobilization through Self Help Groups (SHGs) to improve healthy behaviors that may have a direct bearing on maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes. Multiple rounds of Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) surveys were undertaken to monitor project activities and take corrective measures to improve project indicators. The surveys also evaluated the diffusion of health messages in the project area. The LQAS-2 validation study aimed to examine the accuracy of LQAS-2 data and understand the process of administering the LQAS. The study, which documented the process of survey administration, …


Understanding Youth Sexual And Reproductive Health-Seeking Behaviors In Ethiopia: Implications For Youth-Friendly Service Programming, The Evidence Project Jan 2015

Understanding Youth Sexual And Reproductive Health-Seeking Behaviors In Ethiopia: Implications For Youth-Friendly Service Programming, The Evidence Project

Reproductive Health

In Ethiopia, significant attention has been given to improving youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, including the establishment of youth-friendly services (YFS). Yet high rates of child marriage, unmet need for family planning, and adolescent childbearing persist, particularly in rural areas where over 84 percent of the population lives. Reaching rural youth with timely SRH information and services that are relevant to their varying ages and life stages remains a challenge. The Evidence Project is examining the coverage and reach of public and NGO-supported youth SRH services in several rural regions of Ethiopia. As this activity brief notes, the …


Rights-Based Family Planning: 10 Resources To Guide Programming, Jan Kumar, Karen Hardee Jan 2015

Rights-Based Family Planning: 10 Resources To Guide Programming, Jan Kumar, Karen Hardee

Reproductive Health

The FP2020 goal of providing FP services to 120 million more women and girls that emerged from the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning refocused attention on the need to ensure that FP programs respect, protect, and fulfill human rights. The current challenge is how to operationalize human rights in existing FP programs and new projects. This resource guide reviews ten key resources available to guide programming—FP2020: Rights and Empowerment Principles for Family Planning; Ensuring Human Rights in the Provision of Contraceptive Information and Services, Ensuring Human Rights Within Contraceptive Service Delivery: Implementation Guide; Voluntary Family Planning Programs that Respect, …


Progesterone Vaginal Ring: A Call-To-Action To Fill Critical Gaps In Post-Partum Family Planning, Population Council Jan 2015

Progesterone Vaginal Ring: A Call-To-Action To Fill Critical Gaps In Post-Partum Family Planning, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The progesterone vaginal ring (PVR) is a safe and effective method of contraception for lactating women. It is a priority medicine on the WHO’s Essential Medicines List and is included in the Medical Eligibility Criteria for family planning providers. Developed by the Population Council, the PVR is an intravaginal ring that provides women who breastfeed at least four times a day with a contraceptive option as early as four weeks after giving birth. The PVR provides a new option to reduce unmet need among new mothers, allow women to safely space their pregnancies, and improve the health of women and …


Progesterone Vaginal Ring: Results Of An Acceptability Study In Kenya, Francis Obare, Wilson Liambila, Chi-Chi Undie, Harriet Birungi, Shiphrah Kuria, Heather Clark, Deepa Rajamani, Saumya Ramarao Jan 2015

Progesterone Vaginal Ring: Results Of An Acceptability Study In Kenya, Francis Obare, Wilson Liambila, Chi-Chi Undie, Harriet Birungi, Shiphrah Kuria, Heather Clark, Deepa Rajamani, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The progesterone vaginal ring (PVR) is used to extend the contraceptive effectiveness of lactational amenorrhea among breastfeeding women. Previous studies have shown that contraceptive vaginal rings are safe, effective, and well accepted in varied cultural settings. However, the extent to which the ring is acceptable in the sub-Saharan African context is unknown. This study examined the acceptability of the PVR in Kenya as part of a larger project that was also conducted in Nigeria and Senegal. The specific objectives of the study were to assess the factors influencing the acceptability of the method among clients, their spouses, providers, community members, …


Progesterone Vaginal Ring: Safe For Mothers And Babies, Population Council Jan 2015

Progesterone Vaginal Ring: Safe For Mothers And Babies, Population Council

Reproductive Health

This fact sheet provides basic information on the safety and effectiveness of the progesterone vaginal contraceptive ring. It works as a contraceptive by reinforcing the inhibitory effect of breastfeeding on ovulation and extending postpartum amenorrhea. The PVR is an effective and safe contraceptive for mothers, their babies, and their sexual partners. This method vastly expands the range of contraceptive choices available for nursing women.


L’Anneau Vaginal À Progestérone: Résultats De L’Étude D’Acceptabilité Au Sénégal, Babacar Mane, Papa Chimere Diaw, Nafissatou Diop, Fatou Mbow, Heather Clark, Saumya Ramarao, Deepa Rajamani Jan 2015

L’Anneau Vaginal À Progestérone: Résultats De L’Étude D’Acceptabilité Au Sénégal, Babacar Mane, Papa Chimere Diaw, Nafissatou Diop, Fatou Mbow, Heather Clark, Saumya Ramarao, Deepa Rajamani

Reproductive Health

Le Gouvernement du Sénégal s’est engagé dans une politique volontariste de repositionnement de la planification familiale à travers l’adoption d’un Plan d’Action National de Planification Familiale. Pour mieux adresser les besoins de contraception des femmes et réduire les taux d’abandon, le Population Council a initié le développement d’une gamme d’anneaux vaginaux; le premier produit développé était l’anneau vaginal à progestérone ou AVP, conçu pour les femmes qui allaitent en vue de prolonger la période d’aménorrhée lactationnelle et ainsi promouvoir l’espacement des naissances. Avec l’appui de la Fondation Bill & Melinda Gates, le Population Council a entrepris des activités de pré-introduction …


Marie Stopes International's Sifpo Project—Strengthening International Family Planning Organizations, October 2010–September 2015, Population Council Jan 2015

Marie Stopes International's Sifpo Project—Strengthening International Family Planning Organizations, October 2010–September 2015, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Population Council was a partner in the Strengthening International Family Planning Organizations (SIFPO) project implemented by Marie Stopes International. SIFPO’s mandate was to increase use of voluntary family planning (FP) services globally by strengthening selected international FP organizations with global reach and an extensive, multicountry network of FP clinics for achieving maximum program impact and synergies. This report outlines the Council’s role within the project: evaluate effectiveness of MSI’s FP programs to identify successful best practices and approaches; assist MSI to disseminate the findings of some or all evaluations; strengthen MSI’s internal research and metrics capacity with thematic workshops …


Union Health And Family Welfare Centers In Chittagong And Munshiganj: Are They Ready To Provide 24-Hour Normal Delivery Services?, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, Forhana Rahman Noor, Shongkour Roy, Afsana Fatema Noor Jan 2015

Union Health And Family Welfare Centers In Chittagong And Munshiganj: Are They Ready To Provide 24-Hour Normal Delivery Services?, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, Forhana Rahman Noor, Shongkour Roy, Afsana Fatema Noor

Reproductive Health

To date, the Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has established approximately 3,900 Union Health and Family Welfare Centers (UHFWCs) in rural areas providing: family planning; menstrual regulation; vaccinations; and general, reproductive, and maternal health services six days a week. About 1,500 UHFWCs have been upgraded with the necessary staff and equipment to provide normal delivery services round-the-clock in rural areas. Yet, Family Welfare Visitors (FWVs) posted at UHFWCs perform only 0.3 percent of deliveries. This means that UHFWCs and FWVs are not optimally utilized to increase the rate of institutional deliveries. …


Willingness To Pay For Contraceptive Vaginal Rings In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Deepa Rajamani, Francis Obare, Saumya Ramarao, Harriet Birungi, Heather Clark Jan 2015

Willingness To Pay For Contraceptive Vaginal Rings In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Deepa Rajamani, Francis Obare, Saumya Ramarao, Harriet Birungi, Heather Clark

Reproductive Health

Despite progress made in reducing fertility and increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate in Kenya, many women still experience high unmet need for contraception. Part of the challenge in addressing current levels of unmet need is the limited use of contraception by women during the first 12 months postpartum. New methods are needed that offer greater ease of use, are women-initiated, and do not require significant medical provider involvement for service delivery. One such method is the Progesterone Vaginal Ring (PVR), a reversible contraceptive that according to clinical trial data is safe and effective for breastfeeding women. New product introduction strategies …


Social Accountability For Family Planning: A Case Study Of The Healthy Action Project In Uganda, The Evidence Project Jan 2015

Social Accountability For Family Planning: A Case Study Of The Healthy Action Project In Uganda, The Evidence Project

Reproductive Health

In July 2014, the Evidence Project gathered 26 experts for a two-day meeting on Strengthening the Evidence Base on Social Accountability for Improving Family Planning and Reproductive Health Programs. Participants included social accountability experts from diverse fields (governance, maternal health, family planning) as well as researchers, implementers, and activists. The meeting was one of the first public discussions that addressed social accountability in the context of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH). Meeting participants agreed on the need for case studies of FP/RH initiatives to identify “good practices” in order to advance the application of social accountability to the FP/RH …


Willingness To Pay For Contraceptive Vaginal Rings In Nigeria, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Ayodeji Oginni, Godwin Unumeri, Deepa Rajamani Jan 2015

Willingness To Pay For Contraceptive Vaginal Rings In Nigeria, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku, Ayodeji Oginni, Godwin Unumeri, Deepa Rajamani

Reproductive Health

During the last two decades, Nigeria’s contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) for modern methods remained at 10 percent, one of the lowest rates in sub-Saharan Africa. Following the renewed global commitments culminating in the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning with promises to reach an additional 120 million new users of modern contraceptives worldwide, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health set a new target of raising Nigeria’s CPR to 36 percent by 2018. One way to accomplish this is by meeting the contraceptive needs of women in the immediate postpartum period and beyond. Attention is being focused on making proven contraceptive methods …


The Effect Of Integrating Hiv Services On Quality Of Postnatal Care, Integra Initiative Jan 2015

The Effect Of Integrating Hiv Services On Quality Of Postnatal Care, Integra Initiative

Reproductive Health

Addressing the postnatal needs of new mothers is a neglected area of care throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Unintended pregnancies during the first 12 months following delivery, and vertical transmission of HIV during labor and delivery, are some of the challenges faced by women during the extended postpartum period. Many women want to delay or avoid another pregnancy, but are not using a modern contraceptive method. Few developing countries ensure that mothers and newborns are assessed early and monitored during the initial six-week period as recommended by WHO, which contributes to discontinuity of services received during pregnancy and delivery and limits linkages …


Offering Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Rings For Postpartum Women Through Integrated Family Planning And Immunization Services, Ishita Chattopadhyay, John Townsend, Saumya Ramarao Jan 2015

Offering Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Rings For Postpartum Women Through Integrated Family Planning And Immunization Services, Ishita Chattopadhyay, John Townsend, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

This technical report describes a model for providing the Population Council’s Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (PCVR) through integrated FP/Immunization (FP/I) services, the core components of the model, the types of inputs required, and the steps for introduction and scale-up. It describes how the PCVR can be offered to breastfeeding women in the first year following childbirth. A methodology for implementation of the PCVR-Family Planning/Immunization model (also referred to as PCVR-FP/I) has been designed to introduce the PCVR in the context of accessibility, choice, equity, and, quality. A proposed structure to introduce and integrate the PCVR has been outlined and described …


Anneau Vaginal À La Progesterone: Appel A L'Action Pour Combler Les Ecarts Importants Dans La Planification Familiale Postnatal, Population Council Jan 2015

Anneau Vaginal À La Progesterone: Appel A L'Action Pour Combler Les Ecarts Importants Dans La Planification Familiale Postnatal, Population Council

Reproductive Health

L’anneau vaginal à la progestérone (AVP) est une méthode efficace et sûre de contraception pour les femmes qui allaitent. C’est une médecine prioritaire de la liste des produits médicaux essentiels de l’OMS et elle est inclue parmi les critères médicaux éligibles pour les personnels de la planification familiale. Développé par le Population Council, l’AVP est un anneau intra-vaginal qui donne une option contraceptive aux femmes qui allaitent au moins quatre fois par jour dès la quatrième semaine après l’accouchement. L’AVP apporte une nouvelle option pour réduire les besoins non-satisfaits des nouvelles mères, permet aux femmes d’espacer leurs grossesses sans problème, …


Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings—Task Sharing Policies And Practices In The Delivery Of Family Planning Services: Experiences From Nigeria, Godwin Unumeri, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku Jan 2015

Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings—Task Sharing Policies And Practices In The Delivery Of Family Planning Services: Experiences From Nigeria, Godwin Unumeri, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku

Reproductive Health

Despite tremendous progress over the past decades in family planning and fertility reduction, more than 220 million women have unmet need for contraception globally. The government of Nigeria pledged over $11 million to procure contraceptive commodities for distribution in the public sector from 2011–2015, to increase the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) that had stalled at 10 percent for almost two decades. The Population Council is facilitating the registration, introduction, and scale-up of the Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (PCVR), designed particularly for breastfeeding women, in the sub-Saharan African countries of Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. In Nigeria, restrictive policies regarding matching health …


L’Offre Des Anneux Vaginaux Contraceptifs— La Planification Familiale Postpartum: Experience Du Sénégal, Fatou Mbow, Babacar Mane, Saumya Ramarao Jan 2015

L’Offre Des Anneux Vaginaux Contraceptifs— La Planification Familiale Postpartum: Experience Du Sénégal, Fatou Mbow, Babacar Mane, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

Le Gouvernement du Sénégal, à travers l’adoption du Plan National d’Action pour la Planification Familiale, s’est résolument engagé dans une politique de repositionnement de la planification familiale (PF) qui s’est fixé comme objectif d’augmenter le taux de prévalence contraceptive. L’introduction de l’anneau vaginal à progestérone (AVP) dans la gamme des méthodes contraceptives devra apporter une perspective intéressante pour la promotion de la planification familiale post-partum (PFPP). Pour faciliter cette introduction, il demeure important de bien comprendre le contexte dans lequel évolue le programme national de PF en général et celui de la PFPP en particulier. Grâce à un financement de …


Promoting Respectful Maternity Care Resource Package—Maternity Open Days: Clarifying Misconceptions About Childbirth, Population Council Jan 2015

Promoting Respectful Maternity Care Resource Package—Maternity Open Days: Clarifying Misconceptions About Childbirth, Population Council

Reproductive Health

Fear of disrespect and abuse along with misconceptions about procedures required to assist women during childbirth often negatively influence the decision to seek care at a health facility. Maternity Open Days provide an opportunity for pregnant women and their families to interact with health care providers and visit maternity units to demystify birthing practices and mitigate fears regarding childbirth in a facility. Such an approach brings together women, their families, and providers to enable pregnant women to understand what happens in a maternity unit. This brief is part of a Respectful Maternity Care Resource Package developed by the Kenya Heshima …


Peer Mentoring: An Effective Strategy For Integrating Hiv And Srh Services, Integra Initiative Jan 2015

Peer Mentoring: An Effective Strategy For Integrating Hiv And Srh Services, Integra Initiative

Reproductive Health

Mentoring is an innovative approach to improving provider skills without compromising service delivery by harnessing the potential of existing providers. In Kenya, a peer-mentorship approach was designed and tested to improve service providers’ skills, knowledge, and capacity to provide high-quality integrated HIV and SRH services. A central component was to understand providers’ opinions on mentoring, so as to build a practical and sustainable mentorship model. The “Steps to Integration” series provides a guide on how to integrate HIV and SRH services based on findings from the Integra Initiative, managed by the International Planned Parenthood Federation in partnership with the London …


Health Facility Guidelines And Management Benchmarks: Improving Workplace Health Services And Health Management In Factories, Farms And Other Workplaces In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, David Wofford, Marat Yu, Lauren Shields, Maria Pontes Jan 2015

Health Facility Guidelines And Management Benchmarks: Improving Workplace Health Services And Health Management In Factories, Farms And Other Workplaces In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, David Wofford, Marat Yu, Lauren Shields, Maria Pontes

Reproductive Health

This document contains a set of voluntary health and management guidelines for corporations and their supply chains to promote continual improvement and application of good practices, better access to men’s and women’s health services, and more effective use of health resources at workplaces in the developing world. It is focused on both quality of health services provided at the workplace and adequacy of company policies and management systems to ensure that workers have access to health services. The main goals of the guidelines are to: 1) help enterprises—multinational companies and their supplier or subsidiary companies in developing countries—improve the management …


Investigating The Low Patterns Of Modern Contraceptive Use In Pakistan, Iram Kamran, Zeba Tasneem, Tahira Parveen, Yasmin Zehra Zaidi Jan 2015

Investigating The Low Patterns Of Modern Contraceptive Use In Pakistan, Iram Kamran, Zeba Tasneem, Tahira Parveen, Yasmin Zehra Zaidi

Reproductive Health

This report documents the study “Investigating the Low Patterns of Modern Contraceptive Use in Pakistan” conducted by the Population Council Pakistan in 2014 as part of an extensive research project to determine why use of modern contraceptives in the country remains so low despite large unmet need. The family planning (FP) scenario in Pakistan has changed significantly in recent years, and it is now recognized that the reasons most often cited for unmet need require reappraisal, with qualitative research required for a deeper understanding of the attributes, experiences, reservations, and preferences that women, men, and service providers associate with specific …


Family Planning Policy, Program, And Practice Decisionmaking: The Role Of Research Evidence And Other Factors, Karen Hardee, Kelsey Wright, Joanne Spicehandler Jan 2015

Family Planning Policy, Program, And Practice Decisionmaking: The Role Of Research Evidence And Other Factors, Karen Hardee, Kelsey Wright, Joanne Spicehandler

Reproductive Health

Current attention to increasing access to family planning has increased focus on ensuring that policy, programming, and practice are “evidence-based.” This paper seeks to answer when, what types, and how evidence is used in decision-making related to family planning. Views of what constitutes evidence need to be more aligned: researchers should understand that “evidence-based” does not only mean “research evidence-based” to decision-makers; and decision-makers must understand the value of robust research evidence among other evidence they consider when making decisions. Decision-makers appreciate research but it is only one factor they take into consideration—and may not be the most influential factor …


Landscape Analysis On Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Bangladesh, Charlotte E. Warren, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Rahat Ara Nur, Kanij Sultana, Karen Kirk, Amy Dempsey Jan 2015

Landscape Analysis On Pre-Eclampsia And Eclampsia In Bangladesh, Charlotte E. Warren, Sharif M.I. Hossain, Rahat Ara Nur, Kanij Sultana, Karen Kirk, Amy Dempsey

Reproductive Health

Globally more than 800 women die every day from preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, and 99 percent of these deaths occur in developing countries. Every day approximately 7,200 babies are stillborn. Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E) contribute significantly to these mortalities. Eclampsia is the second most common direct cause of maternal death in Bangladesh followed by post-partum hemorrhage. Through the Ending Eclampsia project, the Population Council is seeking to expand access to proven, underutilized interventions and commodities for the prevention, early detection, and treatment of PE/E. In resource-poor countries, particularly Bangladesh, magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) for management of severe PE/E, …


Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings—Task Shifting And Task Sharing In The Delivery Of Family Planning Services: Experiences From Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Saumya Ramarao, Heather Clark Jan 2015

Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings—Task Shifting And Task Sharing In The Delivery Of Family Planning Services: Experiences From Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Saumya Ramarao, Heather Clark

Reproductive Health

This report describes the task-shifting and task-sharing policies and experiences relevant to the provision of family planning (FP) services in Kenya and the potential place for contraceptive vaginal rings. The feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of mid- and lower-level providers in the provision of FP services is documented. The report highlights how the provision of integrated RH/FP/HIV services could be delivered by various levels in the national health care system through task-sharing. Opportunities for facilitating delivery of the Population Council’s Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (PCVR) within the national health care system in Kenya are also described. Kenya has in place policies …


Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings: Review Of Postpartum And Postnatal Care Programs In Nigeria, Godwin Unumeri, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku Jan 2015

Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings: Review Of Postpartum And Postnatal Care Programs In Nigeria, Godwin Unumeri, Salisu Mohammed Ishaku

Reproductive Health

Postpartum family planning is a major component of postpartum care services. The Population Council is working to introduce an additional method of contraception in Nigeria—the Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (PCVR). The PCVR is administered vaginally but acts systemically to inhibit ovulation. The PCVR contains natural progesterone and is meant for breastfeeding women to augment lactational amenorrhea. As the Council conducts a series of activities as a prelude to eventual introduction of the PCVR in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, the detailed evaluation of the postpartum program environment is very important. Understanding the prevailing postpartum and postnatal care landscapes will be crucial …


Expanding The Role Of Research Evidence In Family Planning Policy, Program, And Practice Decisionmaking, Karen Hardee, Kelsey Wright Jan 2015

Expanding The Role Of Research Evidence In Family Planning Policy, Program, And Practice Decisionmaking, Karen Hardee, Kelsey Wright

Reproductive Health

This working paper focuses on the emerging knowledge translation literature to provide lessons learned on ways to increase the role that evidence plays in decision-making for family planning and reproductive health policies, programs, and practices. It is part of a larger synthesis of the literature that explores what “evidence” means, what types of evidence policymakers, program managers, and implementers seek when facing implementation decisions, and how evidence relates to other factors that influence decision-making. This paper and the larger synthesis are based on a literature search whose objective was to locate references on evidence-based policy in health or social science, …


Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings: Review Of Postpartum Service Packages In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Saumya Ramarao, Heather Clark Jan 2015

Delivering Contraceptive Vaginal Rings: Review Of Postpartum Service Packages In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Saumya Ramarao, Heather Clark

Reproductive Health

The postnatal period is a critical phase in the lives of mothers and newborn babies. Most maternal and infant deaths occur during this time, yet this is the most neglected period for the coverage and provision of quality care. The building blocks of the WHO health systems model were applied in describing the status and health system structures that support the provision of postpartum and postnatal care (PNC) services in Kenya. Many opportunities exist for facilitating the delivery of the Population Council’s Progesterone Contraceptive Vaginal Rings (PCVR) within PNC services in Kenya, such as integration with other primary health care …