Advocacy as a Tool for Advancing Family Planning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Case Study.

The national strategic plan for family planning (FP) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) calls for an increase in modern contraceptive prevalence in 2025. The DRC's size and weak health infrastructure pose significant challenges to programming in all areas of primary health care, including FP. Notwithstanding, in the past decade, a group of advocates organized to undertake a series of activities to improve the policy environment for FP in the DRC.

The scale-up and integration of contraceptive service delivery into nursing school training in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), modern contraceptive prevalence is low by international standards: 29.6% as of 2020. A 2015 pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of using medical and nursing students to administer DMPA-SC (the subcutaneous injection) among other methods at the community level.

An observational study to test the acceptability and feasibility of using medical and nursing students to instruct clients in DMPA-SC self-injection at the community level in Kinshasa.

Objectives: Given the promise of DMPA-SC to increase community-level access to modern contraception in developing countries, we conducted an observational study to assess the acceptability and feasibility of DMPA-SC self-injection among women in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and of medical/nursing (M/N) students as instructors for self-injection.

Study Design: Women who selected DMPA-SC at a community outreach event adjacent to a health center were interviewed upon acceptance (baseline) and then 3, 6 and 12 months later.

Results: Of 850 clients selecting DMPA-SC at baseline, 640 (75.

Family Planning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Encouraging Momentum, Formidable Challenges.

Momentum for family planning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is evident in multiple ways: strong political will, increasing donor support, a growing number of implementing organizations, innovative family planning programming, and a cohesive family planning stakeholder group. Between 2013 and 2017, the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) in the capital city of Kinshasa increased from 18.5% to 26.

Getting to FP2020: Harnessing the private sector to increase modern contraceptive access and choice in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and DRC.

Background: An estimated 214 million women have unmet need for family planning in developing regions. Improved utilization of the private sector is key to achieving universal access to a range of safe and effective modern contraceptive methods stipulated by FP2020 and SDG commitments. Until now, a lack of market data has limited understanding of the private sector's role in increasing contraceptive coverage and choice.

Acceptability of the community-level provision of Sayana® Press by medical and nursing students in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objectives: The objectives were to assess acceptors' attitudes toward Sayana® Press as a method and toward the mechanism of community-based distribution by medical and nursing (M/N) students, known locally as "DBCs," in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to evaluate the experience of these DBCs.

Study Design: In 2015, surveys were conducted among (1) acceptors of Sayana® Press on the day of the initial injection, (2) these same acceptors 3 months later and (3) the DBCs providing community-based services. The analysis was descriptive and involved no significance testing.

Pilot Research as Advocacy: The Case of Sayana Press in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Ministry of Health authorizes only physicians and nurses to give injections, with one exception-medical and nursing students may also give injections if supervised by a clinical instructor. The emergence of the injectable contraceptive Sayana Press in some African countries prompted the DRC to test the acceptability and feasibility of distributing Sayana Press and other contraceptive methods at the community level through medical and nursing students. Sayana Press is similar in formulation to the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera but contains a lower dose and is administered subcutaneously using a single-use syringe with a short needle called the Uniject system.

Family Planning Supply Environment in Kinshasa, DRC: Survey Findings and Their Value in Advancing Family Planning Programming.

Background: Modern contraceptive prevalence was 14.1% in 2007 in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Yet virtually nothing was known about the family planning supply environment.

Family Planning Policy Environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Levers of Positive Change and Prospects for Sustainability.

Building on expressed support from the Prime Minister to the Ministries of Health and Planning, the country's new family planning commitment grew out of: (1) recognition of the impact of family planning on maternal mortality and economic development; (2) knowledge sharing of best practices from other African countries; (3) participatory development of a national strategic plan; (4) strong collaboration between stakeholders; (5) effective advocacy by champions including country and international experts; and (6) increased donor support. The question becomes: Will the favorable policy environment translate into effective local programming?