Translating contraception into practice in the era of HIV/AIDS

Family planning is fundamental to international public health. This evidence-informed presentation will show how increasing access to safe, affordable and acceptable contraception has the potential to positively impact all millennium development goals with an emphasis on goals 5 (maternal health) and 6 (HIV). Many practices to improve contraceptive use have been demonstrated to be effective, but are currently under-used in programmatic efforts at country-level. Selected, effective practices and efforts to increase their uptake in service delivery programs will be highlighted. For the last 25 years, the HIV epidemic has posed special challenges to achieving public health objectives, and required service delivery systems to adapt in response. Recent studies suggest that contraception can be a powerful tool in the fight against HIV, especially in prevention of vertical transmission. However, to be successful health system responses need to be tailored to fit the unique characteristics of each system in the context of local epidemic. This presentation will examine the ways that provision of family planning and prevention of HIV interact and the implications for organization of health services. Recent research results and resulting program guidance will be summarized. Selected, recently developed tools and approaches will be highlighted. Many operational questions still remain and a research agenda focused on integration of family planning and HIV services will be proposed.