Recorded presentation

Anshu P. Mohllajee, MPH, Association of Schools of Public Health, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS K-34, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-6303, amohllaj@hsph.harvard.edu, Kathryn M Curtis, PhD, Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-34, Atlanta, GA 30341, Mary Lyn Gaffield, PhD, Promoting Family Planning Unit, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Genčve 27, 27, Switzerland, and Herbert Peterson, MD, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva 27, Geneva, Switzerland.

Objective: The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working with other major international organizations to create a common set of evidence-based recommendations for family planning. WHO’s Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (MEC) provides guidance regarding “who” can use contraceptive methods safely and the Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (SPR) provides guidance regarding “how” to safely and effectively use contraceptive methods. In 2003 and 2004, the MEC and SPR were expanded and updated based on new scientific evidence.

Methodology: Systematic reviews were conducted for existing recommendations with new evidence and for all new recommendations. The format for searching scientific databases and synthesizing the evidence was based on the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. Expert working groups of family planning experts from 18 different countries convened to assess the evidence and determine the recommendations through a consensus-driven process.

Results: At the MEC Expert Working Group meeting in 2003, recommendations were added for three new contraceptives (the combined hormonal ring, combined hormonal patch, and etonogestrel-releasing implant) and three new conditions (depression, antiretroviral therapy, and known thrombogenic mutations). Changes were made to several existing recommendations, including those for women at risk for STIs or who are HIV positive. In early 2004, the existing SPR recommendations will be reassessed based on new evidence and 12 new recommendations will be added.

Conclusions: The updated, evidence-based WHO family planning guidance contain new and revised recommendations that will directly impact the reproductive health of women all over the world.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to

• Recognize WHO’s evidence-based guidelines.
• Describe the development and consensus-driven process of WHO’s evidence-based family planning guidelines.
• List the new recommendations in WHO’s evidence-based family planning guidelines.

Keywords: Contraceptives, Evidence Based Practice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation