Journal Articles
- Fragile, Threatened, and Still Urgently Needed: Family Planning Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa
Using the latest evidence about trends in modern contraceptive use, fertility, unmet need, urbanization, and poverty in eight key African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, this commentary discusses the ongoing threats to FP programs from such factors as HIV/AIDS, health workforce inadequacy, health-sector reform, and decreased funding. The article underscores the continuing validity of the health, equity, demographic, and development rationales for increased support to organized FP programs, many of which are experiencing stagnation or falloff in performance, and also summarizes what service approaches and interventions have been found to be most efficacious in increasing access to FP services.
Studies in Family Planning. Volume 40, Number 2, June 2009, pages 147-154.
- Blood, men and tears: keeping IUDs in place in Bangladesh
The Intra-Uterine Device (IUD) is an effective method of contraception, but in Bangladesh is associated with high levels of discontinuation within the first year. This study involved data collection from a retrospective cohort of women who had an IUD inserted 12 months earlier. In the cohort, 330 women were interviewed to identify factors associated with discontinuation. Later, 20 women, of the 103 who reported discontinuing because of excessive menstrual bleeding, were interviewed again and in depth about these issues. Of 330 women who had an IUD inserted, 47.3% had discontinued use one year post-insertion. In univariate and multivariate analyses, IUD discontinuation was strongly associated with side-effects (heavier periods; abdominal pain) and spousal factors (not discussing IUD with husband pre-insertion), but not with service delivery factors. In-depth interviews with women who reported excessive blood loss as the main reason for discontinuation found a doubling of both menstrual days and blood loss after IUD insertion. In Bangladesh, women cannot pray, have sexual intercourse, perform household tasks or participate in community activities during menstruation. Thus, women with menstrual side-effects faced serious physical, social and psychological challenges that made continuation difficult. Among those who discontinued, spouses were generally unsupportive and sometimes abusive, particularly when not involved in the decision to use the IUD.
Culture, Health & Sexuality, Volume 11, Issue 5 June 2009, pages 543 - 558
- Vasectomy the focus of the August 2009 Issue of Urological Clinics of North America
In the United States, vasectomies are carried out more often than any other urologic surgical procedure with approximately half a million procedures performed annually. Worldwide, however, female sterilization is approximately 7 times as common as vasectomy, even though vasectomy is less expensive and is associated with less morbidity and mortality than female sterilization. The August 2009 issue of Urological Clinics of North America focuses on vasectomy and providers the practitioner (reader) with the essential information to guide client interest in the procedure. RESPOND Project staff authored the chapter Demographics of Vasectomy— USA and International for the journal issue.
Urological Clinics of North America. 2009; 36[3]: 295–305.
- Fostering Change in Medical Settings: Some Considerations for Family Planning Programmes
Much of the provision of contraceptive methods and services in family planning (FP) programmes occurs in medical settings. FP service provision depends upon the knowledge, skills, and behaviour of health care providers in these settings. Those who give technical assistance to FP programmes need to understand the nature of medical settings and the dynamics of behaviour change there, in order to increase access to quality FP services. This peer-reviewed article underscores the importance of understanding the nature of medical settings and the dynamics of behavior change within them to increase access to quality FP services.
IPPF Medical Bulletin 2009. 43[3]: 3–4.
- The Ghana vasectomy initiative: Facilitating client-provider communication on no-scalpel vasectomy
Laura Subramanian, Cindi Cisek, Nicholas Kanlisi, and John M. Pile
This article discusses an initiative to improve client and provider knowledge and acceptance of no-scalpel vasectomy (NSV) in Ghana in 2003-2004 and 2007-2008. Implemented at eight facilities, the initiative included the training of physicians in NSV; training of all site staff in the provision of ‘‘male-friendly'' services, as well as health promotion activities about NSV to prospective clients. Client-provider communication was assessed via a mystery client study and knowledge and acceptance of NSV among potential clients were assessed with baseline and follow-up surveys. The results suggest that complementary, sustained provider training in client-centered services, coupled with targeted health promotion, can lead to improved client and provider knowledge and acceptance of NSV in an African context.
Patient Education and Counseling 81 (2010) 374-380
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Contraceptive Security: Incomplete Without Long-Acting and Permanent Methods of Family Planning
Jane Wickstrom and Roy Jacobstein
This commentary reviews the importance of long-acting and permanent methods (LA/PMs) of family planning and considers why they have been neglected in national contraceptive security strategies and family planning programs. The authors also provide recommendations for broadening method choice to include LA/PMs more fully, thereby increasing the ability of women and men to achieve their reproductive intentions.
Studies in Family Planning. Volume 42 Issue 4 2011 pp.291-298