WHO updates suggestions to information household planning selections

PATTAYA, 15^th November 2022 — Right this moment
the World Well being Group (WHO) launched necessary updates to its landmark Household Planning Handbook, which
supplies well being employees and coverage makers with probably the most present data on contraceptive choices.

Drawing on classes from latest outbreaks, this re-creation particulars tangible measures for frontline well being employees to guard entry to household planning providers throughout emergencies, reminiscent of wider entry to self-administered contraceptives and the usage of
digital applied sciences by suppliers. It additionally expands steerage for girls and younger folks at excessive threat of HIV.

“Household planning promotes self-actualisation, empowerment, in addition to well being and wellbeing, and reduces maternal and toddler deaths by means of the prevention of unintended being pregnant and unsafe abortion,” stated Dr Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director for Sexual and Reproductive Well being and Rights.
“This up to date Household Planning Handbook is an important useful resource, serving to well being employees assist contraceptive customers around the globe in making knowledgeable selections about the suitable contraceptive choices for them.”

Expertise from latest outbreaks reveals that household planning providers could be severely compromised throughout emergencies. In the course of the preliminary phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, roughly 70% of nations reported disruptions to those very important providers – intensifying dangers of unintended pregnancies
and sexually transmitted infections.

To assist keep away from such outcomes sooner or later, the handbook particulars sensible measures that assist continuity of household planning providers throughout epidemics. These embrace wider entry to self-administered contraceptives, and direct distribution of contraceptives
by means of pharmacies. Well being practitioners may also take steps to assist ongoing contraceptive entry even the place bodily mobility is diminished, reminiscent of offering multi-month provides.

Self-administered contraceptives embrace condoms, contraceptive capsules, some diaphragms, spermicides and most not too long ago, the choice of self-injection of DMPA (a progestin-only contraceptive) since this could now be safely administered just below the pores and skin
reasonably than into the muscle. Many ladies choose injectable contraceptives since they’re non-public and non-intrusive, requiring motion solely ever 2-3 months, with the choice of self-injection prone to additional improve uptake.

“The up to date suggestions on this Handbook present that nearly any household planning methodology can be utilized safely by all ladies, and that accordingly, all ladies ought to have entry to a spread of choices that meet their distinctive wants and objectives in life,”
stated 
Dr Mary Gaffield, Scientist and lead writer of the Handbook. “Household planning providers could be supplied safely and affordably in order that irrespective of the place they stay, {couples} and people are ready to select from secure and efficient
household planning strategies.”

For the primary time, the 2022 version of the Handbook features a devoted chapter to information household planning providers for girls and adolescents at excessive threat of HIV, together with folks residing in settings the place there’s excessive HIV prevalence, those that have a number of
sexual companions, or whose common accomplice resides with HIV. 

Whereas solely condoms shield towards HIV and different sexually transmitted infections, all contraceptive choices – with the only real exception of nonoxynol-9 spermicide – at the moment are thought-about secure for girls and younger folks at excessive threat of HIV, i.e. haven’t been discovered to extend threat of HIV
transmission or acquisition of an infection. For these at excessive threat of HIV, the handbook states that testing, counselling and first-line medical care and referrals ought to all be supplied as a part of household planning providers.

As well as, the Handbook incorporates the newest WHO steerage on cervical most cancers and pre-cancer prevention, screening and therapy which may all be supplied by means of household planning providers; administration of sexually transmitted infections, and household planning in postabortion care.

Now in its fourth version, WHO’s Household Planning Handbook is probably the most extensively used reference information on the subject globally, with over one million copies distributed or downloaded up to now. It’s complemented by the medical eligibility standards instrument for
contraceptive use, additionally downloadable as a devoted App.

The up to date Handbook was launched on the Worldwide Convention of Household Planning in Pattaya, Thailand. Help for its manufacturing and dissemination has been supplied by means of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being and america Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID). 

Contact

At ICFP: Sarah Kessler, [email protected]