This compendium aims to consolidate emerging information on applying digital technology in voluntary family planning programs to inform the adoption and scale-up of successful approaches, as well as encourage learning and adaptation from approaches that were less successful. The interactive website enables users to explore case studies across a range of digital health solutions to enhance voluntary family planning programs in low and middle-income countries.

In the publication, “Maintaining essential health services: operational guidance for the COVID-19 context” the WHO outlines strategies governments should take to ensure populations retain access to essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care, during and beyond the current COVID-19 pandemic. This document, developed with the input of international nongovernmental organizations and local civil society actors to support the implementation of the WHO guidance at the country level, recommends concrete policy, programmatic and budgetary decisions to optimize and implement the WHO guidance and other relevant SRH guidelines at the national and subnational levels. As a living document, the recommendations provide a snapshot of the current context. This document is designed to be updated with new evidence and advocacy recommendations by governments, technical experts, civil society and advocates worldwide with the COVID-19 response and through recovery.

This publication recommends practical actions that countries can take at national, subregional and local levels to reorganize and safely maintain access to high-quality, essential health services in the pandemic context. The guidance outlines strategies governments should take to ensure populations retain access to essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health care, during and beyond the current COVID-19 pandemic. It is intended for decision-makers and managers at the national and subnational levels.

This brief lists key references and resources from the evidence base on DMPA-SC. Pair this with the Evidence at-a-glance brief if your target decision-maker would like to have access to the data in that handout.

The World Health Organization (WHO) convened a Guideline Development Group meeting from 29 to 31 July 2019 to review global guidance on contraceptive eligibility for women at high risk of HIV acquisition to and determine whether revisions to the fifth edition of the Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (MEC) were needed. The issue was deemed critical, particularly for sub-Saharan Africa, given the high lifetime risk of acquiring HIV alongside the importance of hormonal contraception in offering women and adolescent girls’ choice and in reducing their risk of unintended pregnancy, a common threat to the health, well-being and lives of women and adolescent girls.

This press release announces the price reduction of Sayana Press from $1 to $0.85 per dose in qualifying countries.

Along with the World Health Organization (WHO) Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use, this is one of two evidence-based guidance documents of the WHO’s initiative to develop and implement family planning guidelines for national programs. This document provides guidance for how to use contraceptive methods safely and effectively once they are deemed to be medically appropriate. Safety considerations include common barriers to safe, correct and consistent use of contraception and the benefits of preventing unintended or unwanted pregnancy.

Along with the World Health Organization (WHO) Selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use this is one of two evidence-based guidance documents of the WHO’s initiative to develop and implement family planning guidelines for national programs. This publication provides guidance to national family planning and reproductive health programs in the preparation of guidelines for the delivery of contraceptive services. The guide provides information on the safety and use of intramuscular and subcutaneous DMPA.

This WHO Academy online learning course was created for pharmacists and pharmacy staff to support wider access to contraception, particularly in low-resource settings. Pharmacies and drug shops play an important role in helping people manage their sexual health and family planning needs. These locations are typically easily accessible within communities, with staff providing critical information that helps people make informed decisions about their health.

Through studies and practice exercises in this course, participants learn how to provide best-practice contraception counselling, about different contraceptive methods, and about follow-up care. It includes a module on counselling and prescribing self-injectable contraception with DMPA-SC. The course is available on the WHO Academy website in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.

The ability of individuals to space, time, and limit pregnancies in alignment with their preferences, with or without the support of a healthcare provider

This Family Planning High Impact Practice brief outlines the principles and practices of contraceptive self-care: the ability of individuals to freely and effectively space their pregnancies, time their pregnancies, and prevent pregnancies in alignment with their fertility preferences, with or without the support of a healthcare provider. This is facilitated by the integration of contraceptive self-care interventions into policies, programs, and delivery channels across health systems including family planning and reproductive health.