Essential Components of Family Planning Benefits Packages

The literature review drew on existing literature, including peer-reviewed and "grey" literature produced by relevant organizations, from 1990 to 2016. The review posed some challenges, as much of the literature discusses family planning within the broader context of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), rather than as a discrete package of services. The literature review findings were presented and discussed at a meeting of family planning experts, who participated in a Delphi process to capture their recommendations and inform the definition of essential family planning packages for inclusion in UHC-oriented health benefit schemes. A total of 792 references were collected from the literature search, with 160 papers included in the final synthesis. Evidence on the inclusion of specific services in a family planning package was extracted, including counseling, method-specific counseling, screenings, postpartum family planning, safe abortion, abortion complications, sex education, pregnancy testing, infertility, rape/sexual assault, demand generation, adverse impact, integration of family planning with other services, and integration of family planning with HIV services. The literature review also extracted evidence on the provision of a broad mix of family planning methods, including short-acting, long-acting reversible, and long-acting permanent methods, as well as evidence on the provision of one or two types of family planning methods. The results of the literature review and expert consultation informed the development of essential family planning packages for inclusion in UHC-oriented health benefit schemes. A comprehensive family planning package is essential for achieving universal health coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The package should include a broad mix of family planning methods, including short-acting, long-acting reversible, and long-acting permanent methods, as well as counseling services, demand generation, and integration with other health services. The package should also address the needs of vulnerable populations, including adolescents, youth, and women. The literature review and expert consultation highlighted the importance of integrating family planning with other health services, including maternal and child health (MCH) interventions, HIV and AIDS testing and care, post-abortion care, and youth-friendly services. This integration can help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of family planning services, as well as reduce the financial burden on individuals and families. The results of the literature review and expert consultation have implications for policymakers, program managers, and healthcare providers working to improve access to family planning services in low- and middle-income countries. The essential family planning packages developed through this process can serve as a model for other countries and contexts, and can help to inform the development of policies and programs that promote universal health coverage. The Health Policy Plus project is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-15-00051, beginning August 28, 2015. The project is implemented by Palladium, in collaboration with Avenir Health, Futures Group Global Outreach, Plan International USA, Population Reference Bureau, RTI International, ThinkWell, and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.