Data has the power to convey the lived experiences of women and adolescents, highlighting the importance and potential of expanding choices to reduce unmet need for contraception. This monitoring, learning, and evaluation (MLE) toolkit features three tools for dynamic decision-making: A data visualization principles guide, an Excel dashboard how-to guide, and a data use and indicators guide. These are primers on how to create dynamic and visually compelling self-injection program data displays (e.g., dashboards, presentations) that facilitate comprehension and use of self-injection data for family planning program decision-making. While the MLE toolkit was developed with self-injection in mind, many of the principles could be applied to data visualization needs across family planning programs and methods.

We want to hear from you! By completing this short survey, you can help us ensure the tools are meeting the needs of key stakeholders during new product introduction and scale-up. Please contact FPoptions@path.org with any questions or request for assistance.

Supportive supervision plays a critical role to ensure high-performing health workers have the appropriate knowledge, skills, and motivation in order to deliver quality family planning (FP) services and informed choice counseling. This package includes three supportive supervision tools that can be used by regional or district health teams when conducting supervision visits at health facilities that offer FP services:

1. Supportive supervision checklist to assess provision of family planning counseling
2. Observation checklist to assess health workers counseling clients on DMPA-SC self-injection
3. Remote supervision of family planning providers (includes family planning and self-injection)

Tools #1 and #2 can be used together or separately, depending on whether or not the supervision visits include follow-up with providers recently trained to counsel clients on DMPA-SC self-injection.

Tool #3 is intended for use in situations where in-person supervision is not possible; the supervision exercise can be conducted through phone or video. This tool includes guidance and instructions for supervisors who plan to conduct supervision remotely.

The tools are intended to serve as guides and can be adapted for specific settings as needed. For more information, contact FPoptions@path.org.

The DMPA-SC Access Collaborative hosted this April 21, 2021 webinar highlighting lessons learned to date through four years of data-driven technical assistance and coordination to ensure that women have increased access to self-injection as a contraceptive option, delivered through informed choice programming. The discussion focused on key topics for the introduction and scale-up of self-injection—and self-care interventions more broadly—at the country level including:

• Policy and advocacy for new product introduction.
• How to coordinate scale-up of a new product.
• Using data to inform program introduction and scale-up.
• Effective innovations and adaptations in provider training.

This discussion was moderated by Monica Mutesa, Zambia Country Coordinator, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH. Speakers included:

• Caitlin Corneliess, Project Director, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH
• Adewole Adefalu, Nigeria Country Coordinator, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, JSI
• Allen Namagembe, Uganda Deputy Director, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH
• Avotiana Rakotomanga, Madagascar Country Coordinator, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, JSI
• Alain Kabore, Regional Technical Advisor, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH

For more information, please contact FPoptions@path.org.

This was a hands-on skill-building session during the Making Self-Injection Count workshop in which participants worked with a sample data set in order to create data visualizations using Microsoft Excel. Two versions of the session were offered—a beginner session for participants with limited experience using Excel and data visualizations, and an advanced session for those with more experience. Participants needed a computer with Excel; the dataset and other materials were provided.

Objectives

By the end of the session, participants were able to:

• Identify key considerations for developing data visualization products.
• Build a dynamic and interactive decision-making tools in Excel through a hands-on exercise.
• Tailor data visualization products to meet the needs of different audiences.

Key takeaways

• Family planning data must be distilled and easy to understand to enable stakeholders to make decisions.
• When developing data visualizations, ask the following:
  • Who is your audience?
  • What do they want to know?
  • How will you communicate it?
• Stakeholders differ in their data needs and visual literacy, and the approach you use should align with the audience’s information needs.

Presenters

• Nicole Danfakha, Senior Data Viz Program Officer, JSI
• Dome Okoku, MLE Advisor, InSupply Health

The DMPA-SC Access Collaborative provides data-driven technical assistance, resources, and tools that countries need for designing, implementing, and monitoring the introduction and scale up of DMPA-SC self-injection as part of an expanded range of contraceptive methods, delivered through informed choice programming.

In addition to general information and evidence on DMPA-SC, partners can access the support outlined in the menu by submitting a request through the technical assistance request form linked below. Your request can be submitted by emailing the completed form to FPoptions@path.org.

WHO’s global family planning handbook provides high-quality, up-to-date guidance for health-care professionals working in low- and middle-income countries.

The purpose of this template is to provide users with an evidence-based, adaptable framework for planning a large-scale DMPA-SC self-injection program in any country. It builds on, and acts as an addendum to, the broader National plan for the introduction and scale-up of subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC) template, providing more specificity for self-injection program planning. This template includes links to many resources, such as summaries of scientific evidence, a detailed Program Design Guide, advocacy materials, and training resources. For more information or assistance when developing a country plan for DMPA-SC introduction and scale-up, visit the Access Collaborative technical assistance page or contact FPoptions@path.org.

This checklist is a customizable tool that can be used to monitor Subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC, Sayana® Press) contraceptive self-injection programs and health worker practices. The questions can be adapted as needed to align with local program designs and guidelines. To access the MS Word version of this tool in English or French, please email FPoptions@path.org.

This journey map was designed to help program planners with self-injection programs.

Sayana® Press is a new formulation and presentation of the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera®, manufactured and patented by Pfizer Inc. Administered through subcutaneous injection, Sayana Press contains 30% less depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) than the intramuscular presentation of Depo-Provera (generic: DMPA-IM). Studies have found that the contraceptive efficacy and safety profile of Sayana Press (DMPA-SC in the Uniject™ injection system) are equivalent to those of DMPA-IM. Sayana Press is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women of childbearing potential. Sayana Press is presented in the Uniject injection system, an autodisable injection device, prefilled with 104 mg/0.65 mL* medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, the active ingredient, a synthetic form of the natural hormone progesterone) sterile aqueous suspension. In addition to providing three months of effective contraception, Sayana Press shares other characteristics of DMPA-IM, including: Rapid onset of effect: No backup contraceptive method is required during the first cycle of use; High efficacy: It is not compromised by body mass index (BMI); Convenient administration: It is easy to use; Discreet administration: Women can use it without telling their partners or families; Safety: It can be used by women for whom contraceptive use of estrogen is inappropriate or contraindicated.