Scaling Up Access to Implants: A Summative Evaluation of the Implants Access Program

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Reproductive Health
• Health Systems Strengthening

Background:

• The Implants Access Program (IAP) was a collaborative initiative involving public and private organizations.
• It aimed to improve access to contraceptive implants for women in low-income nations.
• The program addressed price, supply chain, service delivery, and awareness barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a summative evaluation of the IAP.
• To identify key insights into the program's relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability.
• To understand the impact of public-private partnerships on contraceptive access.

Main Methods:

• A desk review of program materials and published literature was performed.
• Forty-two in-depth interviews were conducted with global and country-level stakeholders.
• Case studies were developed for Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda.

Main Results:

• A tenfold increase in contraceptive implant procurement was observed between 2010 and 2018.
• The prevalence of contraceptive implant use also increased during this period.
• The IAP successfully leveraged global family planning efforts and provided a business case for manufacturers.

Conclusions:

• The IAP demonstrated effective collaboration and coordination at global and country levels.
• Sustaining progress necessitates institutionalized mechanisms and long-term price assurances for implants.
• The program successfully built public- and private-sector collaboration for systems change in family planning.