CYP factors updated to strengthen FP program reporting

USAID Missions and international agencies and donors use Couple-years of protection (CYP) as a standard measure to monitor the progress of family planning programs as a proxy for family planning coverage. Since the CYP conversion factors were last updated in 2000, new contraceptive methods have been introduced (e.g. Jadelle®, Implanon® and Sino Implant (II)®) and contraceptive technology has improved necessitating a research review and revision to reflect current realities for all family planning methods. RESPOND collaborated with key experts from USAID and Tulane University to update the 2000 CYP factors.

The work included conducting an extensive literature review (6,364 articles were identified; 485 articles of which were reviewed; and 276 articles were abstracted), developing an Excel data base containing the findings, and holding two expert review meetings and several virtual meetings to agree on conversion factors. RESPOND hosted a dissemination meeting in September 2011 under the auspices of the LA/PM Community of Practice (COP) to present the evidence and discuss uses of the new factors with a focus on how to support USAID Mission reporting. Thirty-six professionals from 16 organizations attended the meeting including donor organizations, multilaterals, and cooperating agencies.

In December 2011, the updated conversion factors were officially endorsed by USAID. Recently, Marie Stopes International (MSI) announced that it adopted the new CYP factors, which will bring it in line with the new evidence. The RESPOND Project welcomes MSI's support!