The INFO Project Blog

INFO is gearing up to launch a new kind of social networking site. The Elements of Successful Family Planning Programs is more than your new bicycle. It’s your fast-tracked guide to meeting colleagues around the world, finding new evidence-based resources, and gaining insight from FP program authorities around the world who have built successful programs. Join today, and stay tuned for the site to launch next week!

Kannada is spoken in Southern India’s Karnataka province, famously home to booming Bangalore, aka South Asia’s Silicone Valley. Bangalore appears to be booming, given its roaring new-economy growth of 8% per year, but the city’s “crumbling” infrastructure and poor surrounding regions are suffering. It’s no wonder, given the city and surrounding state’s rapid growth in population.

So, then, how do you say “Family Planning” in Kannada?

Actually, the translation work has been done–that is, job aids, checklists and guidance on methods from the Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers have already been translated into Kannada under the guidance of Chief Medical Officer Dr. K. Ravi Kumar (counseling clients above right).

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In conjunction with our new project on the elements of successful family planning methods, we’ve been querying experts to see which components they believe are crucial. Recently we spoke with the man who wrote the book (literally) on contraception, Dr. Robert Hatcher of Emory University (Dr. Hatcher was a also key technical advisor on the Global Handbook INFO produced earlier this year).

He emphasized the importance of providing highly-effective long-lasting methods such as the IUD and implants, but also of something more basic–the empowerment of women. He said there won’t be the financial support needed for an effective program without this essential element.

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The TRIP Database, from the UK, is one of the web’s leading resources for Evidence-Based Medicine. Users can search three separate databases:

• Evidence Based Medicine
• Patient Information Leaflets
• Medical images

A search on “contraceptive implants” returns over 600 items, which the user can filter by clicking on “Systematic Reviews” or “Guidelines” (sorted by region) or “Clinical Questions.”

The same search done under “Patient Information Leaflets” brings back examples from the UK, US, and Australia. There is also a TRIP Blog and a feature which allows registered users to customize their TRIP home page.

For more information on contraceptive implants, check out the following resources: INFO’s new Implants Toolkit A new issue of Population Reports on implants An INFO Report with tools for providers, and… Our One Source search on implants

Implants offer a highly effective way to expand family planning choices for women and reduce the incidence of maternal mortality worldwide, according to the latest issue of Population Reports. Released with a companion issue of INFO Reports, the publication emphasizes the method’s ease of use and its potential for reducing unmet need worldwide. Currently just .3% of married women choose this family planning method. Read more about the new publications here.

Authors Deepa Ramchandran and Ushma Upadhyay are eager to know how program managers and service providers will use the reports’ findings. They offer up two questions for readers.

1. By 2008, Norplant, the six-capsule implant system, will no longer be available. Are programs that are currently offering Norplant switching to provide the newer implants (either Jadelle, Implanon, or Sino-Implant (II))?

If so, how are they planning to transition to the new implants?

If not, what alternative are they providing for women who want long-acting methods?

2. We have heard that in many countries demand for implants is very high and many women want implants but are unable to obtain them. Cost is the largest barrier to access to implants and many of the reported shortages of implants are due to their high cost. What strategies are programs using to continue to provide implants to their clients?