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

Abstract #117326

Erika Ronnow, MPH, Youssouf Ouedraogo, MS, Briton Bieze, MPH, and Timothy R. Williams, MA, MES. DELIVER Project, John Snow, Inc., 1616 N. Fort Myer Dr., 11th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209, (703) 528-7474, erika_ronnow@jsi.com

Effective supply chains are an essential and often underappreciated component of reproductive health (RH) programs. Without key products, RH programs cannot fully meet client needs, even if other program interventions and prerequisites—personnel, finances, infrastructure, etc.,— are in place. In recent years, contraceptive supply chains have faced challenges due to integration across multiple health programs, decentralization, and in some cases, increased emphasis on HIV/AIDS programs. The USAID-sponsored DELIVER Project has endeavored to improve logistics systems in this challenging environment in over 30 countries worldwide since 2000. Monitoring and evaluation systems were implemented during the early phases of work in most priority countries, allowing project partners to track changes over time and use results for evidence-based decision-making. The main indicator measured is product availability at the service delivery point level, and contributing factors such as data quality for placing orders, forecast accuracy, storage conditions, etc., are also measured. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used, including facility surveys, comprehensive qualitative assessments with key informants, and analysis of routine MIS information. Select DELIVER results and lessons will be presented, using baseline and endline facility survey results in four countries (Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Nicaragua), MIS data, and qualitative findings from 20+ countries. The presentation will discuss the extent to which contraceptive availability increased during the project life; underlying factors that contributed most to RH product availability; the effect of integration, decentralization, and the HIV/AIDS pandemic on supply chain performance; variables that did not improve, and how M&E results were used for evidence-based decision-making.

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