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FHI's "Family Health Research"A forum for putting knowledge into practice Family Health Research is a newsletter designed to promote the use of evidence-based practices in reproductive health programs. Each issue examines a key topic in reproductive health care — offering the latest updates on innovative research and the programs that help to put that research into practice. Family Health Research also offers a forum for sharing information. You are invited to comment on the articles and share your own experiences. |
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Family Health Research: Long-Acting and Permanent Methods Long-acting and permanent methods (LAPMs) are a class of four highly effective approaches to family planning. Two of the methods — intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants — are long-acting, reversible options for women and couples who wish to delay, space, or limit their pregnancies. The other two — female sterilization and vasectomy — are permanent options for women and men who are certain they want no more children. This newsletter examines the unrealized potential of LAPMs to help family planning programs meet the needs of clients and improve public health. Although there are some challenges associated with the provision of LAPMs, these can be overcome by improving service delivery and educating potential clients. FHI and its partners have identified several ways to improve access to LAPM services, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where there is a high unmet need for these services. Country versions: Kenya (PDF, 476 KB), South Africa (PDF, 386 KB), Uganda (PDF, 386 KB) Family Health Research: Tools for Service Delivery In this issue of our newsletter, we present materials that can help health care workers provide better family planning services. These tools for service delivery offer ready reference and practical guidance to providers, based on the most current evidence from research and programs. This issue examines some of the research behind such tools, and it reports on efforts to encourage their use. A new international publication for family planning providers brings together many service delivery tools in one easy-to-use handbook. The tools include instructions for what a woman should do if she forgets to take contraceptive pills, FHI's checklists for determining a client's eligibility for various contraceptive methods, and a contraceptive effectiveness chart. In countries including Uganda and Kenya, FHI is working with partners to promote a package of service delivery tools. This package is designed to guide providers so that they can help their clients make informed choices about safe and effective use of contraception. Family Health Research: The Community-based Distribution of Injectable Contraceptives Injectable contraceptives are increasingly popular for many reasons, including their safety, effectiveness, ease of use, privacy, and convenience. In sub-Saharan Africa, injectables are the most widely used contraceptive method, chosen by more than 38 million women. But many eligible women have limited access to injectable contraceptives because these methods are typically provided through clinical services. This newsletter examines the potential for encouraging sustained use of contraception by training community-based health workers to provide injectable methods. A pilot study conducted in Uganda's Nakasongola District demonstrated that such health workers can safely and efficiently provide injectable contraceptives. The evidence from this pilot project and the availability of safer injection technologies are prompting governments in Kenya, Madagascar, and other countries to test the community-based distribution of injectable contraceptives. Country versions: Kenya (PDF, 329 KB), South Africa (PDF, 331 KB), Uganda (PDF, 326 KB) Family Health Research: Integrating Services The integration of HIV and family planning services offers a number of benefits. It may not only provide women with greater access to health care, it will also enable women living with HIV to avoid unintended pregnancies. Fortunately, our experience with the integration of family planning and HIV services is growing. As described in this issue, the organizers of an African regional conference on integrated services received more than 100 abstracts explaining their work on the subject. Evidence presented at that conference — including FHI's experiences — suggests that integration is a promising strategy to address the reproductive-health concerns of all women. Studies in both Kenya and South Africa show that integration does not compromise the quality of the services. Nevertheless, more research is needed to evaluate the consequences of integrating these services and to inform the design of health care programs in the future. Country versions: Kenya (PDF, 224 KB), South Africa (PDF, 222 KB), Uganda (PDF, 225 KB) |
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