E X P A N D I N G F A M I L Y P L A N N I N G O P T I O N S

Developing and Testing Materials

for Lower Lit and Direct-to-

Consumer audiences

Susana Mendoza Birdsong

Georgetown University’s Institute

for Reproductive Health: Overview

25+ years of experience in 30+ countries worldwide

Focus on critical needs & gaps in RH

Skills in applying quantitative and qualitative research to design and implement evidence-based programs

Research to practice to scale-up strategies, from global to community levels

Forming a wide variety of partnerships to strengthen capacity for sustainable services

Training/ongoing support of health care providers with a focus on simple, sustainable tools and approaches

Expertise in empowering women,

Using Evidence to Expand Choice, Empower Women and Involve Communities

Mali Boutique Insert

Objective:

Develop a CycleBeads insert that conveys all the information a user must know to use the Standard Days Method and CycleBeads without provider intervention.

Evolution of the CycleBeads®

Inserts

Prelude

• Previously developed and tested pictorial insert in India

• Images for a western African version of the insert were developed and tested in focus groups

Where would a couple have this

conversation?

Which more clearly indicates the

period has not started?

Mali Boutique Insert Study

• CycleBeads insert that teaches user how to screen themselves, use CycleBeads without provider intervention.

• Mali Pictorial draft served as the jumping point for the study

• 3 rounds of interviews with 100 adults (ages 15-49)

• 50 men and 50 women from 2 different sites

• Participants were given the insert and a set of

CycleBeads to familiarize themselves with for 15

minutes

• Interviewer then administered a questionnaire on key

concepts pertaining to CycleBeads and SDM

• 75% correct was defined as adequate comprehension

(14 of 19 questions correct)

• “Thought

bubbles” showed

to be confusing

for participants.

The text was

enough.

• Added “red

drops” for first

day of period in

front of calendar

as well to

emphasize when

to mark the

calendar

Paper SDM in Benin

Objective:

Develop a paper SDM that can be widely distributed, well understood and used by women and couples without provider intervention.

Phase 1 Focus GroupsParticipants Total Number

of Participants

Number/Age

Number Age

Providers 6 n/a n/a

Group 1

Women6

1 22

1 25

1 27

1 36

1 37

1 39

Group 2

Women7

1 20

1 21

2 22

1 27

1 30

1 32

Phase 2

Phase 2

• 30 women recruited to track their menstrual cycles for 2 months (about 2 cycles)

• NOT used as a family planning method

at this time

• Interviewed at 1 week and again at 2 months to see how well information is understood and how correctly the card was marked over 2 months.

Phase 3

Will be distributed in 2 of 4 sites in hair salons and/or Kiosques.

Service statistics will be collected for 2 months before and 2 months after the intervention to measure its impact on SDM and CycleBeads consultations where family planning services are provided or CycleBeads are sold.

E X P A N D I N G F A M I L Y P L A N N I N G O P T I O N S