Evidence to advocate for family planning and contraceptive security

Increasingly, Ministries of Health are recognizing the importance of attaining contraceptive security (CS)—the condition where everyone is able to choose, obtain, and use quality contraceptives whenever they need them.

To monitor progress toward contraceptive security, the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT designed a set of indicators that enable an understanding of the CS situation in a given country by assessing various contributors to contraceptive security, including finance for procurement, methods offered, policies, coordination, and the supply chain. Monitoring the CS situation enables evidence-based advocacy, decision making, and program planning.

The survey data (collected from over 40 countries) indicate that countries have worked to improve contraceptive security. For example, of the surveyed countries, 90 percent have coordination committees that address contraceptive security, and 63 percent contribute government funds for contraceptives. On average, they offer 8 contraceptive methods in public-sector facilities.

In many of the surveyed countries, however, improvements can still be made, including by increasing the amount of government contributions for contraceptives, expanding the range of contraceptive methods included in essential medicine lists, and enhancing the reliable availability of contraceptives.

Findings from annual CS Indicator surveys from 2009 on are available on the USAID | DELIVER PROJECT website, via country dashboards, online maps, papers, and data spreadsheets. The availability of the online CS Indicator information allows for data visibility and tailored analyses. The dashboards and maps also further promote informed advocacy and decision making by making the data more visual and easily accessible.