This piece was originally featured on the Knowledge Success blog.
By Ashley Jackson, Deputy Project Director, EECO, PSI
Why we created this collection
Are you working to add a new method choice to a national family planning program?
Are you planning the launch of a new contraceptive product in the private sector?
Does your work include market-shaping efforts to improve global access to more family planning options?
And if you answered yes to any of the above, do you find it challenging to locate the most helpful and relevant tools to guide your work in any of these areas?
If so, read on.
Your work on contraceptive product introduction has the potential for far-reaching impact. “Health concerns” and “infrequent sex” are the top self-reported reasons for non-use of contraception among women with an unmet need for modern family planning methods in low- and middle-income countries. Many of these women say they want more contraceptive options that are non-hormonal, have milder or no side effects, or can be used on-demand. Alongside other efforts to advance universal health coverage, the launch and scale-up of more contraceptive choices can support finding a method that suits an individual’s needs and preferences, prevents unintended pregnancies, and fulfills their reproductive intentions.
To support your work, USAID’s Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options (EECO) project has curated the 20 Essential Resources: Contraceptive Product Introduction collection. The selected resources can support program planners’ and implementers’ efforts to analyze whether to make new contraceptive technologies available and how best to do so.
A wide range of contraceptive method choices is needed to meet the diverse needs and preferences of women and men at different stages of their lives. The addition of new options to family planning programs can contribute to broader efforts to expand method choice and support people to achieve their reproductive intentions.
How we chose the resources
EECO combed the literature and gathered expert input to identify and describe these featured resources, which range from seminal works that remain relevant to cutting-edge approaches published just this year.
What is included in this collection
The collection encompasses a mix of publications, videos, and online tools categorized into the following topics:
- Program Design: These eight resources help users plan the process of product introduction and scale-up. While some focus on country-level planning, others focus on global market-shaping interventions.
- Product Registration: This guide prepares program managers to work with manufacturers and regulatory experts to support contraceptive product registration, a required step for market entry.
- Quantification: If a contraceptive method is new to a market, historical consumption data may not exist or be useful as a basis for predicting future consumption. These three tools walk users through the steps of forecasting and supply planning, with special considerations outlined for new products.
- Provider Training: This package of training resources is key for preparing family planning providers to offer new and existing methods.
- Marketing & Demand Creation: The choice to use a contraceptive product is ultimately made by consumers, not providers. The discipline of marketing—as laid out in these two tools—can strengthen efforts to inform consumers of their options, including new contraceptive methods.
- Method-Specific Guides: The five resources in this section guide users through the steps recommended for the introduction of a specific method of contraception (e.g., DMPA-SC or the hormonal IUD), providing concrete examples and considerations for both self-administered and provider-administered contraceptive products.
Banner photo credit: USAID/Benja Andriamitantsoa.
