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Contraceptive introduction reconsidered: a new methodology for policy and program development
1Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, USA.
Journal of Women'S Health
|April 1, 1999
Summary
Introducing new contraceptive technology requires more than just the technology itself; it demands consideration of user needs and program capacity. Past introductions, like IUDs in India and Norplant in Indonesia, highlight implementation challenges and the need for better methodologies.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Family Planning Policy
- Health Technology Assessment
Background:
- New contraceptive technologies offer potential for expanded fertility control options for women.
- Historical international family planning programs demonstrate that new methods do not always broaden reproductive choice.
- Past introductions of intrauterine devices (IUDs) in India and Norplant in Indonesia revealed significant implementation challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effectiveness of introducing new contraceptive technologies in international family planning programs.
- To identify limitations in approaches that focus solely on technology, neglecting user needs and program capacities.
- To present and evaluate a World Health Organization (WHO) methodology for contraceptive introduction that emphasizes social and institutional context.
Main Methods:
- Case study analysis of IUD introduction in India (1960s) and Norplant in Indonesia.
- Review of the WHO's methodology for contraceptive introduction, focusing on participatory and research-based approaches.
- Illustration of the WHO methodology's implementation in Vietnam.
Main Results:
- Exclusive focus on technology in family planning programs can be problematic, failing to broaden reproductive choice.
- Norplant introduction in Indonesia faced deficiencies in technical and interpersonal care despite efforts to improve upon previous approaches.
- The WHO methodology, emphasizing social and institutional context, shows promise in program and policy development for contraceptive introduction.
Conclusions:
- Effective contraceptive technology introduction necessitates methodologies that integrate user needs and program capacities.
- A participatory and research-based approach, considering the social and institutional context, is crucial for successful family planning program development.
- Further evaluation of the WHO methodology is needed to optimize contraceptive introduction strategies globally.