Materials developed to ensure equal access to LA/PMs

Family planning programs have adopted contraceptive security strategies that aim to ensure informed choice and client access to a full range of family planning methods. These strategies have been successful in improving availability of and client access to the more widely used, short-acting resupply methods of family planning (oral contraceptives, injectables, and condoms). However, more work needs to be done to ensure equal access to LA/PMs. To assist, RESPOND and JSI/DELIVER jointly produced two products.

The first is a technical brief -- Using Quantification to Support Introduction and Expansion of Long-Acting and Permanent Methods of Contraception -- that identifies ways to improve tools for quantifying the medical equipment, instruments and expendable supplies needed to provide LA/PMs, and the likely rate of product consumption.

The second product is a Contraceptive Forecasting Guide -- Quantification of Health Commodities: Contraceptive Companion Guide, Forecasting Consumption of Contraceptive Supplies -- that will be widely disseminated in mid-2012. Additionally, RESPOND produced an updated equipment list for LA/PMs entitled Medical Instruments and Expendable Medical Supplies Needed to Provide Long-Acting and Permanent Methods of Contraception.