A mainstay in the global fight against COVID-19 is the use of data to inform all types of decisions, from how often to get tested, to who should be prioritized for testing, to how quickly to reopen businesses and schools. It is clear that data are critical to the global health community’s efforts to beat COVID-19. Likewise, family planning data have always been critical to the work of the Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) partnership.
Since 2012, FP2020 and its partners have made a concerted effort to improve the availability, quality, and frequency of family planning data by annually reporting country progress on core family planning indicators. During the past eight years, FP2020 has worked with data experts to expand measurement of family planning by (1) improving methodologies for estimation of different indicators and (2) innovating new indicators based on currently available data. The result of this work is the 18 FP2020 Core Indicators.
The annual reporting process allows countries to assess progress on key family planning indicators, and thus informs annual family planning program planning. However, this annual data only provides a national-level view of progress and offers limited visibility into progress in regions, districts, municipalities, or among specific populations. The family planning data community has been working towards improving methodologies to estimate progress at the sub-national level and for sub-populations. Recently, Health Policy Plus, also known as the HP+ Project, along with Track20, created a new and replicable methodology to evaluate key family planning indicators at more local levels.
The new methodology enables us to evaluate if inequities exist for the most disadvantaged groups (e.g. youngest women or least educated women) in various components of family planning programming (e.g. access to services or family planning information dissemination). It ultimately allows us to diagnose where inequities exist and who faces these inequities within a country. While the HP+ Project methodology does not allow for evaluating trends over time, it is a step in the right direction as it lets us assess family planning indicators at more local levels where services are delivered and increasingly more policy decisions are made.
Over the past eight years, we have come a long way as a community and family planning data continues to improve. However, as we look towards the post-2020 partnership, measurement challenges remain, including data on very young adolescents, LGBTI people, and people living in humanitarian settings. In a world where data are increasingly available and prominent, the next partnership should invest in those areas where measurement is lagging.
Shiza Farid, Data Analyst
Sesi Aliu, Manager
Identifying Inequity in Family Planning Programs: A New, Replicable Approach
Despite improvements in family planning programs, millions of women are still not receiving quality information and services. Kaja Jurczynska, Demographer at Palladium, explains a new approach to identify inequities and better use Demographic and Health Survey data.
Senegal Leads the Way
Through a “Peer Assist”
This “peer assist” was a virtual knowledge exchange and learning activity between Chad and Senegal, organized by the FP2020 Secretariat and the Knowledge SUCCESS project. The virtual session was part of an ongoing series of cross-country sharing and learning activities following the Francophone FP2020 Focal Point Workshop held in Dakar in March 2020.
“Why Family Planning Makes More Sense Now Than Ever Before”
Vinit Sharma, Davide De Beni, Annette Sachs Robertson, Federica Maurizio; Journal of Health Management
This research article analyzes the possible consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rights of individuals and couples, and seeks to provide justifications for continued national commitment and investments in family planning, especially as the pandemic continues.
Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options: Introducing the Caya Diaphragm in Niger
Expanding Effective Contraceptive Options Project, funded by USAID
This new program brief shares the key steps taken, lessons learned and initial outcomes of the introduction of the Caya Diaphragm in Niger. The Caya Diaphragm is a self-care, non-hormonal, discreet and reusable barrier method of contraception. The brief is also available in French.
Identifying Inequity in Family Planning Programs at National and Subnational Levels: A new, replicable approach
Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition
August 18, 10:00 am EDT/ 14:00 GMT
Connecting Conversations on AYRH, Session 3: How Social Norms and Cultural Practices Affect and Influence AYRH
FP2020 and Knowledge SUCCESS
August 19, 7:00 AM EDT
Advancing Maternal and Newborn Health in Humanitarian Settings
Task Sharing Family Planning Services to Increase Health Workforce Efficiency and Expand Access: A Strategic Planning Guide Webinar
HIPS, FP2020, & WHO/IBP Network
August 20, 9:30 am
Nothing for Us Without Us: Prioritizing Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Emergencies
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Globally: Where We Are and Where We’re Going
Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative in partnership with Guttmacher Institute
August 25, 2020, 10:00 am EDT
"""Mstari wa msingi katika mapambano ya kimataifa dhidi ya COVID-19 ni matumizi ya data kuarifu aina zote za maamuzi, kutoka kwa mara ngapi kupimwa, kwa nani anapaswa kuwa na kipaumbele kwa upimaji, kwa jinsi ya haraka kufungua biashara na shule." Ni wazi kwamba data ni muhimu kwa juhudi za jamii ya afya ya kimataifa kushinda COVID-19. Kwa hivyo, data za mipango ya familia zimekuwa muhimu kwa kazi ya ushirikiano wa Mpango wa Familia 2020 (FP2020). Tangu 2012, FP2020 na washirika wake wamefanya juhudi za pamoja kuboresha upatikanaji, ubora, na mzunguko wa data za mipango ya familia kwa kuripoti kila mwaka maendeleo ya nchi juu ya viashiria vya msingi vya mipango ya familia. Katika miaka minane iliyopita, FP2020 imefanya kazi na wataalam wa data kupanua kipimo cha mipango ya familia kwa (1) kuboresha mbinu za kukadiria viashiria tofauti na (2) kubuni viashiria vipya kulingana na data zinazopatikana sasa. Matokeo ya kazi hii ni 18 FP2020 Core Indicators. Utaratibu wa ripoti ya kila mwaka inaruhusu nchi kutathmini maendeleo juu ya viashiria muhimu vya mipango ya familia, na hivyo huelekeza mipango ya kila mwaka ya mipango ya familia. Hata hivyo, takwimu hizi za kila mwaka hutoa tu mtazamo wa maendeleo ya kitaifa na hutoa mwonekano mdogo wa maendeleo katika mikoa, wilaya, manispaa, au kati ya idadi maalum ya watu. Jamii ya data ya mipango ya familia imekuwa ikifanya kazi kuelekea kuboresha mbinu za kukadiria maendeleo katika ngazi ya chini ya kitaifa na kwa idadi ya watu. "Hatua ya ""Health Policy Plus"" (HPP+) na ""Track20"" ni mbinu mpya ya kutathmini viashiria muhimu vya mipango ya familia katika maeneo mbalimbali." Mbinu mpya inatuwezesha kutathmini kama ukosefu wa usawa upo kwa vikundi vilivyo chini zaidi (kwa mfano Wanawake wenye umri mdogo au wenye elimu ya chini zaidi (Wanawake wenye umri mdogo zaidi) wanajumuishwa katika vipengele mbalimbali vya mipango ya mipango ya familia (kwa mfano, Upatikanaji wa huduma za mipango ya familia Hii inatuwezesha kutambua ni wapi kuna ukosefu wa usawa na ni nani anayekabiliwa na ukosefu huo ndani ya nchi. Ingawa mbinu ya mradi wa HP+ hairuhusu tathmini ya mwenendo kwa muda, ni hatua katika mwelekeo sahihi kwani inatuwezesha kutathmini viashiria vya mipango ya familia katika ngazi za mitaa zaidi ambapo huduma zinatolewa na maamuzi zaidi ya sera yanafanywa. Katika miaka minane iliyopita, tumefika mbali sana kama data ya jamii na mipango ya familia inaendelea kuboresha. Hata hivyo, tunapotazama ushirikiano wa baada ya 2020, changamoto za kipimo zinabaki, ikiwa ni pamoja na data juu ya vijana wadogo sana, watu wa LGBTI, na watu wanaoishi katika mazingira ya kibinadamu. Katika ulimwengu ambapo data inazidi kupatikana na kuonekana, ushirikiano ujao unapaswa kuwekeza katika maeneo ambayo kipimo kinashindwa. Shiza Farid, Mtaalamu wa Takwimu Sesi Aliu, Msimamizi wa Utambuzi wa Ukosefu wa Haki katika Programu za Mpango wa Familia: Njia Mpya, inayoweza kuiga Licha ya maboresho katika programu za Mpango wa Familia, mamilioni ya wanawake bado hawapati habari na huduma za ubora. Kaja Jurczynska, Demographer katika Palladium, anaelezea mbinu mpya ya kutambua ukosefu wa usawa na kutumia vizuri data ya Uchunguzi wa Idadi ya Watu na Afya. "Kupitia ""Msaada wa wenzao"" (Peer Assistance) ni shughuli ya kubadilishana maarifa na kujifunza kati ya Chad na Senegal, iliyoandaliwa na Katibu wa FP2020 na mradi wa ""Ufanisi wa Ujuzi.""" Mkutano huo wa mtandaoni ulikuwa sehemu ya mfululizo wa shughuli za kushiriki na kujifunza kati ya nchi baada ya Warsha ya Kifaransa ya FP2020 iliyofanyika Dakar mnamo Machi 2020. "Kwa nini Mpango wa Familia Una Maana Zaidi Sasa Kuliko Wakati Uliowahi Kuwapo: Vineet Sharma, Davide De Bini, Annette Sachs Robertson, Federica Maurizio, Journal of Health Management: ""Kichapo hiki cha utafiti kinachunguza matokeo yanayowezekana ya janga la COVID-19 kwa haki za watu binafsi na wanandoa, na inatafuta kutoa sababu za kuendelea kujitolea kwa kitaifa na uwekezaji katika mipango ya familia, haswa wakati janga linaendelea." "Kuchangia ""Caya Diaphragm"" katika Nigeria: ""Caya Diaphragm"" ni mpango wa kimataifa wa kuendeleza matumizi ya njia za kuzuia mimba nchini Niger, na ni mpango wa kimataifa wa kuendeleza njia za kuzuia mimba nchini Niger." Diaphragm ya Caya ni njia ya kujitegemea, isiyo ya homoni, ya busara na inayoweza kutumiwa tena ya kuzuia mimba. Maelezo hayo yanapatikana pia katika Kifaransa. "Kuchunguza ""Usawa katika Programu za Mpango wa Familia katika Viwango vya Kitaifa na vya Chini ya Kitaifa: Njia Mpya ya Kuiga: Mkutano wa Vifaa vya Afya ya Uzazi: Mwongozo wa Mkakati wa Mpango wa Afya: Mahojiano juu ya AYRH, Session 3: Jinsi Kanuni za Jamii na Mazoea ya Utamaduni Zinaathiri na Kuathiri AYRH na Afya ya Uzazi: Tunaendelea wapi? na Mahusiano ya Afya ya Maternal na ya Mtoto katika Mipango ya Utoaji wa Huduma: Mwongozo wa Mkakati wa Mpango wa Afya: Mtandao wa Mpango wa Afya: "" (PDF) "