Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105147

Victoria H. Jennings, PhD, Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008, 202-687-1392, jenningv@georgetown.edu, Bulbul Sood, MD, CEDPA India, 50-M Shantipath, Gate #3, Niti Margh, Chanikipuri, New Delhi, India, and Caroline Blair, MBA, Georgetown University, Institute for Reproductive Health, 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008.

The Introducing Best Practices (IBP) process is instrumental in expanding the availability of new contraceptive options. The Standard Days Method (SDM), an effective, low-cost, easy-to-use method that is being incorporated into reproductive health programs in several countries offers a case study in the success of this process. This presentation discusses how the IBP process in India and Africa has affected availability and impact of the SDM. In India, the Institute for Reproductive Health (IRH) collaborated with CEDPA, CASP/PLAN, and CARE to identify best practices appropriate for India that contribute to correct method use, satisfaction, and program feasibility. These organizations presented results of SDM operations research at the Indian IBP meeting in 2003, contributed information to the IBP electronic communication system, and continued to work with public and private sector IBP participants to create a context supportive of the SDM. As a result, government and NGO leaders decided to include the SDM in their programs. A study of the impact on contraceptive prevalence and quality of services of offering the SDM is underway in Jharkand. Results of studies on including the SDM in Africa were reported at the 2004 IBP meeting by IRH and its collaborating partners, the Population Council, the Zambia Central Board of Health, WHO and the Zanzibar Nursing Association. Continued communication with participating government and NGO leaders has led to increased interest in and commitment to SDM introduction and scale up. Experience developing communities of practice and supportive environments for integrating SDM best practices will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to

• Assess the evidence base for introducing a new family planning method;
• Discuss the steps in bringing the method to practice;
• Describe challenges and strategies in the research-to-practice process.

Keywords: Family Planning, Reproductive Health Research

Related Web page: www.irh.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation