MIHR Contraceptive and Method Choice Brief (October 2023)

The brief discusses the importance of expanding method choice in family planning programs, moving beyond traditional supply-side approaches to include a focus on individual agency, autonomy, and reproductive empowerment. It presents a new framework, the Contraceptive and Method Choice Framework (CMCF), which recognizes that contraceptive choice is influenced by various individual, relational, sociocultural, and health system factors. The framework highlights the need to consider the entire chain of events in realizing an individual's or couple's reproductive intentions, including decision-making, access to information and services, and self-care. The brief also emphasizes the importance of addressing inequities in access to contraceptive services and promoting reproductive agency as a key indicator of program success.