PATTAYA, 15th November 2022 — Immediately
the World Well being Group (WHO) launched vital updates to its landmark Household Planning Handbook, which
offers well being employees and coverage makers with essentially the most present info 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 companies throughout emergencies, reminiscent of wider entry to self-administered contraceptives and the usage of
digital applied sciences by suppliers. It additionally expands steering 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 way of the prevention of unintended being pregnant and unsafe abortion,” mentioned Dr Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director for Sexual and Reproductive Well being and Rights.
“This up to date Household Planning Handbook is a crucial useful resource, serving to well being employees assist contraceptive customers around the globe in making knowledgeable selections about the correct contraceptive choices for them.”
Expertise from latest outbreaks reveals that household planning companies may be severely compromised throughout emergencies. Throughout the preliminary phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, roughly 70% of nations reported disruptions to those important companies – 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 companies throughout epidemics. These embody wider entry to self-administered contraceptives, and direct distribution of contraceptives
by way of pharmacies. Well being practitioners can even take steps to assist ongoing contraceptive entry even the place bodily mobility is diminished, reminiscent of offering multi-month provides.
Self-administered contraceptives embody condoms, contraceptive drugs, 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 slightly below the pores and skin
slightly than into the muscle. Many ladies desire injectable contraceptives since they’re non-public and non-intrusive, requiring motion solely ever 2-3 months, with the choice of self-injection more likely 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 targets in life,”
mentioned
Dr Mary Gaffield, Scientist and lead writer of the Handbook. “Household planning companies may be supplied safely and affordably in order that regardless of the place they dwell, {couples} and people are ready to select from protected and efficient
household planning strategies.”
For the primary time, the 2022 version of the Handbook features a devoted chapter to information household planning companies for girls and adolescents at excessive threat of HIV, together with folks residing in settings the place there may be excessive HIV prevalence, those that have a number of
sexual companions, or whose common associate resides with HIV.
Whereas solely condoms defend towards HIV and different sexually transmitted infections, all contraceptive choices – with the only exception of nonoxynol-9 spermicide – are actually thought of protected 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 provided as a part of household planning companies.
As well as, the Handbook incorporates the newest WHO steering on cervical most cancers and pre-cancer prevention, screening and therapy which may all be supplied by way of household planning companies; administration of sexually transmitted infections, and household planning in postabortion care.
Now in its fourth version, WHO’s Household Planning Handbook is essentially the most broadly used reference information on the subject globally, with over 1,000,000 copies distributed or downloaded up to now. It’s complemented by the medical eligibility standards software 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 way of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being and america Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID).
Contact
At ICFP: Sarah Kessler, [email protected]
