Research highlights from the International Conference on Family Planning Gateway

To celebrate the return of the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) this year, F1000 Publishing Executive Tim Bodicoat and ICFP Gateway Advisor Jean Christophe Rusatira reflect on some of the most impactful ICFP research published with Gates Open Research so far.

The International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) Gateway on Gates Open Research provides a space for conference presenters to publish research linked to work presented at the ICFP, whether the authors are funded by the Gates Foundation or not.

Publishing this work on an open access Platform, at no cost, brings the invaluable research discussed at the conference to an even wider audience and in greater detail than what can be accommodated during a conference presentation. This Platform also allows the whole scientific community to freely access the research published there, paving the way to achieving the ICFP’s goal of making family planning accessible to all, for which universal access to research publications is vital.

The last ICFP was in 2018, with over 4,000 people meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, to discuss the theme of Investing for a Lifetime of Returns. This year’s ICFP takes place on 14–17 November in Pattaya, Thailand, with the theme of Family Planning and Universal Health Coverage: Innovate. Collaborate. Accelerate.

You can find highlights of the five most-read articles published in the Gates Open Research ICFP Gateway below.

1. Knowledge and factors influencing long-acting reversible contraceptive use among women of reproductive age in Nigeria

Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa, Olalekan Seun Olagunju

Our most-read paper with over 3,150 views and 440 downloads analyzes the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as implants and intrauterine devices, among Nigerian women.

By surveying 1,927 women aged 15–49, the authors found that 21.0% were using traditional contraceptive methods, and 14.8% were using LARCs. They found a significant correlation between prior knowledge of LARCs and their use, and that women with higher levels of education were more likely to use them.

LARCs are the most cost-effective contraceptives and, unlike short-acting methods, do not rely on people using them correctly or require much maintenance. The authors’ analysis shows that improving women’s knowledge of LARCs and recommending them as a first-line method should increase their use.

This would give women more choice over their reproductive health, including the number and timing of their children, which can lead to improved postpartum health outcomes and reduced maternal and infant mortality.

2. Exploring gaps in monitoring and evaluation of male engagement in family planning

Bridgit M. Adamou, Brittany S. Iskarpatyoti, Chris B. Agala, Carolina Mejia

This paper with over 2,450 views and 198 downloads addresses one of the most critical issues in family planning.

Engaging men in family planning programs is key to improving their uptake, but evaluation of the approaches to achieve this remain lacking. The authors of this paper sought to remedy that by reviewing the existing literature and interviewing staff from organizations aiming to engage men in family planning.

The most common approach was to engage men as exclusive clients of family planning, followed by engaging them as partners.

The authors found it difficult to assess how effective different approaches to male engagement were because existing programs rarely separated data by sex or contraceptive method. They call for a coordinated effort in the way data are collected and analyzed.

3. The benefits of family planning (FP) use in Benin: an application of the Demographic Dividend Model (DemDiv)

Justin Dansou

This study with over 2,100 views and nearly 100 downloads projects the benefits of family planning use in Benin, where it remains low despite efforts to improve access to contraceptives.

The author used the Health Policy Project’s Demographic Dividend Model, which aims to quantify the changes required to create a population with more working-age adults and fewer young dependents. They used a large range of data to predict the effect of two scenarios over the Sustainable Development Goals period of 2015–2030.

In the first scenario, where family planning use does not increase, the number of children per Beninese woman would be the same in 2030 as in 2015, at 4.5. In the second scenario, where family planning use increases from 7.9% in 2015 to 33.95% in 2030, the number of children per woman would come down to 3.5. They predict that this scenario would also prevent around 10,000 maternal deaths and save around 200,000 children from dying preventable deaths before their fifth birthday.

The author hopes their study will encourage policymakers in Benin to support voluntary family planning programs.

4. Good sex matters: Pleasure as a driver of online sex education for young people

Lindsay van Clief, Elianne Anemaat

This study with more than 1,300 views and 90 downloads addresses one of the least researched areas.

More and more young people are actively looking for sexual health information online. This study looks at how pleasure-positive content can help encourage that engagement. The authors used Google Analytics to analyze user engagement of Love Matters, an online sex education platform.

They found that while users tend to spend more time engaging with purely educational content, pleasure-focused content attracts 1.5 times more visitors.

The authors stress that including pleasure-positive content should not mean losing information about the health risks involved. However, they argue that if the risks are not put into the wider context of sexual experience, it will be more difficult to effectively engage young people.

5. Effects of community-based health insurance on modern family planning utilization in Ethiopia

Girma Kassie, Bekele Tefera

This study with more than 1,250 views and 169 downloads explores the impact of novel community-based insurances on modern contraceptive that may prove critical to attaining national family planning goals.

In 2011, Ethiopia piloted a community-based health insurance plan to remove the financial burden of healthcare from households. It has since been expanded to more districts, but there has still been little research into the use of health services by members of the plan. This paper analyzes the uptake of family planning methods of women enrolled in the health insurance scheme.

The authors interviewed 3,313 women of reproductive age and found that 49% were enrolled in the scheme. Although family planning methods are provided for free, those enrolled are 1.43 times more likely to use contraceptives.

This shows that along with easing the financial burden of health services, the community-based insurance plan may also help expose members to information that increases the use of family planning methods.

Publish your ICFP findings with Gates Open Research

All ICFP 2022 presenters are once again eligible to publish their ICFP findings with Gates Open Research. And, this year, we are now offering free English language editing, where required, for papers that are accepted into the Gateway to further support researchers and their cutting-edge work.

Attending this year’s ICFP? Come and speak to the Gates Open Research team at Booth 3 of the exhibit hall to learn more. You can also start your research submission today.