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IPPF/Tommy Trenchard

Resources

Latest resources from across the federation and our partners

Spotlight

A selection of resources from across the Federation

HIV
Resource

HIV Theory of Change

Our HIV Theory of Change is to clarify the goals and vision of IPPF’s HIV programme and to articulate the different pathways and strategies IPPF uses to contribute towards its HIV goals and vision.
HIV
Resource

| 20 November 2023

HIV Theory of Change

Background IPPF offers a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights through its Integrated Package of Essential Services (IPES) which is offered at affiliate service delivery points. The IPES includes HIV testing, HIV prevention, HIV care and treatment, services for sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, contraception, abortion care, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, and support for sexual and gender-based violence Purpose The purpose of our HIV Theory of Change is to clarify the goals and vision of IPPF’s HIV programme and to articulate the different pathways and strategies IPPF uses to contribute towards its HIV goals and vision. This Theory of Change endeavours to represent a conceptual model that is complex and non-linear in the format of a readable diagram. Therefore, this Theory of Change diagram is a simplified representation of a complex process which cannot be fully captured in this format. Our Theory of Change describes causal pathways for how the work in our HIV programme contributes to the ultimate goals and vision. The purpose of this conceptual model is not to provide a detailed description of the components of our HIV services, as these are described in the 2020 ‘IPPF Comprehensive HIV Services Package’ and the IPPF 2022 ‘Client-centred-clinical guidelines for sexual and reproductive health care’. Reading the diagram Our Theory of Change diagram is read from left to right, representing movement in time from the world we currently live in (left side) towards the future we would like to see, which is represented by our vision (right side). There are 7 pathways (page 1), each with a set of strategies (shown on pages 4 and 5 as close-ups of the diagram), whose work contributes towards achieving our HIV goals and vision. The 7 pathways are divided into cross-cutting pathways (community engagement, evidence and learning, capacity strengthening and sharing, strategic partnership building) and core pathways (advocacy, empowerment, comprehensive service delivery). The cross-cutting pathways are iterative and intersecting, contributing to each other and collectively contributing to the 3 core pathways. The core pathways represent the 3 main areas of our HIV programme, which, like all elements of the diagram, also interact with each other synergistically. The strategies of all 7 pathways working together contribute towards a set of outcomes. The outcomes interacting together contribute towards our goals, which in turn interact with each other, and contribute towards our ultimate vision.

HIV
Resource

| 20 November 2023

HIV Theory of Change

Background IPPF offers a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights through its Integrated Package of Essential Services (IPES) which is offered at affiliate service delivery points. The IPES includes HIV testing, HIV prevention, HIV care and treatment, services for sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, contraception, abortion care, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, and support for sexual and gender-based violence Purpose The purpose of our HIV Theory of Change is to clarify the goals and vision of IPPF’s HIV programme and to articulate the different pathways and strategies IPPF uses to contribute towards its HIV goals and vision. This Theory of Change endeavours to represent a conceptual model that is complex and non-linear in the format of a readable diagram. Therefore, this Theory of Change diagram is a simplified representation of a complex process which cannot be fully captured in this format. Our Theory of Change describes causal pathways for how the work in our HIV programme contributes to the ultimate goals and vision. The purpose of this conceptual model is not to provide a detailed description of the components of our HIV services, as these are described in the 2020 ‘IPPF Comprehensive HIV Services Package’ and the IPPF 2022 ‘Client-centred-clinical guidelines for sexual and reproductive health care’. Reading the diagram Our Theory of Change diagram is read from left to right, representing movement in time from the world we currently live in (left side) towards the future we would like to see, which is represented by our vision (right side). There are 7 pathways (page 1), each with a set of strategies (shown on pages 4 and 5 as close-ups of the diagram), whose work contributes towards achieving our HIV goals and vision. The 7 pathways are divided into cross-cutting pathways (community engagement, evidence and learning, capacity strengthening and sharing, strategic partnership building) and core pathways (advocacy, empowerment, comprehensive service delivery). The cross-cutting pathways are iterative and intersecting, contributing to each other and collectively contributing to the 3 core pathways. The core pathways represent the 3 main areas of our HIV programme, which, like all elements of the diagram, also interact with each other synergistically. The strategies of all 7 pathways working together contribute towards a set of outcomes. The outcomes interacting together contribute towards our goals, which in turn interact with each other, and contribute towards our ultimate vision.

biomedical-hiv-prevention
Resource

| 29 March 2023

IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention

Recent advances in biomedical HIV prevention technologies mean more choices are available for people to protect themselves from HIV. Therefore, these technologies must be effectively made available and affordable to all populations who need them. All individuals have a right to sexual and reproductive health, and HIV prevention is a key component necessary to ensure health, well-being, positive sexual lives and the upholding of human rights. Access to these new technologies is a key to successfully meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 3.3: ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This IMAP Statement is intended to update Member Associations across the Federation on biomedical HIV prevention technologies and support their integration of new biomedical HIV prevention services into comprehensive sexual and reproductive health service delivery. Download the statement in English, Spanish, French and Arabic below.

biomedical-hiv-prevention
Resource

| 29 March 2023

IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention

Recent advances in biomedical HIV prevention technologies mean more choices are available for people to protect themselves from HIV. Therefore, these technologies must be effectively made available and affordable to all populations who need them. All individuals have a right to sexual and reproductive health, and HIV prevention is a key component necessary to ensure health, well-being, positive sexual lives and the upholding of human rights. Access to these new technologies is a key to successfully meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 3.3: ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This IMAP Statement is intended to update Member Associations across the Federation on biomedical HIV prevention technologies and support their integration of new biomedical HIV prevention services into comprehensive sexual and reproductive health service delivery. Download the statement in English, Spanish, French and Arabic below.

n/a
Resource

| 28 July 2022

Technical Brief: Fulfilling the sexual and reproductive rights of women living with HIV, preventing coerced and forced sterilization

The purpose of this technical brief is to promote gender-transformative, rights-based and scientifically accurate information for advocacy and service-delivery to fulfil the sexual and reproductive rights of women, girls and people who have the capacity to become pregnant, who are living with HIV.  In doing so, we also aim to provide sufficient evidence to prevent sexual and reproductive rights violations, especially coerced and/or forced sterilization against those living with HIV. The technical brief documents that coerced and/or forced sterilization of women living with HIV is a persistent and serious human rights violation requiring urgent action. The brief reviews components of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service delivery and international medical guidance to uphold and fulfil the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV to choose if and when to have children.  This brief is primarily intended to inform IPPF Member Associations, secretariat staff, and partners including other SRH service delivery organizations and stakeholders. The brief reinforces IPPF’s position and commitment to person-centred and rights-based HIV care that is integrated within a comprehensive package of SRH services. Download the technical brief below in English or Spanish. 

n/a
Resource

| 28 March 2024

Technical Brief: Fulfilling the sexual and reproductive rights of women living with HIV, preventing coerced and forced sterilization

The purpose of this technical brief is to promote gender-transformative, rights-based and scientifically accurate information for advocacy and service-delivery to fulfil the sexual and reproductive rights of women, girls and people who have the capacity to become pregnant, who are living with HIV.  In doing so, we also aim to provide sufficient evidence to prevent sexual and reproductive rights violations, especially coerced and/or forced sterilization against those living with HIV. The technical brief documents that coerced and/or forced sterilization of women living with HIV is a persistent and serious human rights violation requiring urgent action. The brief reviews components of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service delivery and international medical guidance to uphold and fulfil the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV to choose if and when to have children.  This brief is primarily intended to inform IPPF Member Associations, secretariat staff, and partners including other SRH service delivery organizations and stakeholders. The brief reinforces IPPF’s position and commitment to person-centred and rights-based HIV care that is integrated within a comprehensive package of SRH services. Download the technical brief below in English or Spanish. 

Refugee family
Resource

| 18 June 2020

Forced to flee from home... What would you do?

Forced to flee from home... What would you do?People are being forced from their homes more than ever. Whether they are fleeing conflict or lose their homes to natural disasters, there are an estimated 70.8 million refugees worldwide. Women & girls are often most at risk – the threat of sexual and gender-based violence increases as does the risk of trafficking, and basic healthcare can get overlooked.  We want to know: what would you do under these circumstances? Life has always been largely peaceful in your country until one day civil war suddenly breaks out and you and your family are forced to flee home.Once you cross the border and are settled into a refugee camp, your husband refuses to use contraception and your injectable is only effective for 12 weeks.You are worried you’ll get pregnant again, something you do not want to happen whilst you are in the refugee camp with limited access to healthcare, and whilst your family is already struggling to survive.You decide to:Your name is Fatima, and you are a 29-year-old high school teacher. You are married with two young children – a daughter aged four, and a son, two. After a few months in the camp you realise you are pregnant. Abortion is legal in your host country, but as a refugee you are unsure of your rights and the closest hospital is over 60km away.You hear about abortion pills from other women in the camp that are available through local mobile clinics.You decide to:You seek advice on the methods of contraception available to you from the local outreach worker. You decide on a long-acting contraceptive method called Jadelle, an implant.As you are worried that your husband will find out, the outreach worker advises you to bring him along to a group session on contraception.You decide to:You are able to receive medical abortion pills through a nurse practitioner at the local clinic, who explains you the safe way to take the pills at home. She also provides you with contraception counselling and options for the future. At the local district hospital, medical practitioners are under the misbelief it is not possible to provide surgical abortions to refugees, whilst others refuse to provide abortions on moral grounds, therefore forcing you through an unintended pregnancy. You and your husband attend the family planning session with other couples from the camp. Your husband is convinced of the importance of contraception and you both agree that the Jadelle and condoms are the best options for you to avoid an unintended pregnancy.You now have up to five years of protection against unintended pregnancy. However, you are still worried about the risk of STI and HIV transmission but are unable to talk about contraception to your husband.

Refugee family
Resource

| 18 June 2020

Forced to flee from home... What would you do?

Forced to flee from home... What would you do?People are being forced from their homes more than ever. Whether they are fleeing conflict or lose their homes to natural disasters, there are an estimated 70.8 million refugees worldwide. Women & girls are often most at risk – the threat of sexual and gender-based violence increases as does the risk of trafficking, and basic healthcare can get overlooked.  We want to know: what would you do under these circumstances? Life has always been largely peaceful in your country until one day civil war suddenly breaks out and you and your family are forced to flee home.Once you cross the border and are settled into a refugee camp, your husband refuses to use contraception and your injectable is only effective for 12 weeks.You are worried you’ll get pregnant again, something you do not want to happen whilst you are in the refugee camp with limited access to healthcare, and whilst your family is already struggling to survive.You decide to:Your name is Fatima, and you are a 29-year-old high school teacher. You are married with two young children – a daughter aged four, and a son, two. After a few months in the camp you realise you are pregnant. Abortion is legal in your host country, but as a refugee you are unsure of your rights and the closest hospital is over 60km away.You hear about abortion pills from other women in the camp that are available through local mobile clinics.You decide to:You seek advice on the methods of contraception available to you from the local outreach worker. You decide on a long-acting contraceptive method called Jadelle, an implant.As you are worried that your husband will find out, the outreach worker advises you to bring him along to a group session on contraception.You decide to:You are able to receive medical abortion pills through a nurse practitioner at the local clinic, who explains you the safe way to take the pills at home. She also provides you with contraception counselling and options for the future. At the local district hospital, medical practitioners are under the misbelief it is not possible to provide surgical abortions to refugees, whilst others refuse to provide abortions on moral grounds, therefore forcing you through an unintended pregnancy. You and your husband attend the family planning session with other couples from the camp. Your husband is convinced of the importance of contraception and you both agree that the Jadelle and condoms are the best options for you to avoid an unintended pregnancy.You now have up to five years of protection against unintended pregnancy. However, you are still worried about the risk of STI and HIV transmission but are unable to talk about contraception to your husband.

Beauty parlour-related training
Resource

| 08 August 2019

Watch - Beauty Behind Bars: Life after prison for women in India

India is home to 20 female-only prisons, that have the capacity to hold just 5,000 inmates. Women currently make up 4% of India's prison population. Before they reach prison, many women have already experienced sexual and gender-based violence. Many inmates face discrimination and are often ostracized from their community and their families once they are released. Realizing a gap in care for women once released, the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) have stepped in to ensure women are equipped with not only healthcare whilst in prison but life training skills. Skills that will financially support them and their children with or without the support of their families. Established in 1949, the Family Planning Association of India has provided life skills training ranging from beauty parlour related work to car mechanics to 768 women in six locations.

Beauty parlour-related training
Resource

| 08 August 2019

Watch - Beauty Behind Bars: Life after prison for women in India

India is home to 20 female-only prisons, that have the capacity to hold just 5,000 inmates. Women currently make up 4% of India's prison population. Before they reach prison, many women have already experienced sexual and gender-based violence. Many inmates face discrimination and are often ostracized from their community and their families once they are released. Realizing a gap in care for women once released, the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) have stepped in to ensure women are equipped with not only healthcare whilst in prison but life training skills. Skills that will financially support them and their children with or without the support of their families. Established in 1949, the Family Planning Association of India has provided life skills training ranging from beauty parlour related work to car mechanics to 768 women in six locations.

IMAP Statement ECHO Trial
Resource

| 09 July 2019

IMAP statement on the ECHO trial

The body of evidence on possible increased risk of HIV acquisition with use of progestogen‑only contraception has remained mixed since 1991, with the greatest concern of an increased risk of HIV acquisition centred on the use of intramuscular depot‑medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA‑IM). Data on the risk of HIV acquisition and use of other highly effective contraceptives such as norethisterone enanthate (NET‑EN), hormonal implants, and hormonal and non‑hormonal IUDs are limited.2 And there are no data on subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA‑SC) and HIV risk.  In 2016, an updated systematic review of epidemiological evidence on hormonal contraception and HIV acquisition concluded that there was a significant association between the use of DMPA and HIV acquisition and no increased HIV risk with oral contraceptive pills.3 The updated systematic review provided important data regarding DMPA users at high risk of HIV; however, confounding in these observational data could not be excluded. The historically mixed data and the need to control for confounding required further investigation into the association between use of progestogen‑only injectables and increased risk of HIV acquisition, using a more robust research design. This led to the development of the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) trial.  

IMAP Statement ECHO Trial
Resource

| 09 July 2019

IMAP statement on the ECHO trial

The body of evidence on possible increased risk of HIV acquisition with use of progestogen‑only contraception has remained mixed since 1991, with the greatest concern of an increased risk of HIV acquisition centred on the use of intramuscular depot‑medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA‑IM). Data on the risk of HIV acquisition and use of other highly effective contraceptives such as norethisterone enanthate (NET‑EN), hormonal implants, and hormonal and non‑hormonal IUDs are limited.2 And there are no data on subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA‑SC) and HIV risk.  In 2016, an updated systematic review of epidemiological evidence on hormonal contraception and HIV acquisition concluded that there was a significant association between the use of DMPA and HIV acquisition and no increased HIV risk with oral contraceptive pills.3 The updated systematic review provided important data regarding DMPA users at high risk of HIV; however, confounding in these observational data could not be excluded. The historically mixed data and the need to control for confounding required further investigation into the association between use of progestogen‑only injectables and increased risk of HIV acquisition, using a more robust research design. This led to the development of the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) trial.  

HIV
Resource

| 20 November 2023

HIV Theory of Change

Background IPPF offers a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights through its Integrated Package of Essential Services (IPES) which is offered at affiliate service delivery points. The IPES includes HIV testing, HIV prevention, HIV care and treatment, services for sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, contraception, abortion care, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, and support for sexual and gender-based violence Purpose The purpose of our HIV Theory of Change is to clarify the goals and vision of IPPF’s HIV programme and to articulate the different pathways and strategies IPPF uses to contribute towards its HIV goals and vision. This Theory of Change endeavours to represent a conceptual model that is complex and non-linear in the format of a readable diagram. Therefore, this Theory of Change diagram is a simplified representation of a complex process which cannot be fully captured in this format. Our Theory of Change describes causal pathways for how the work in our HIV programme contributes to the ultimate goals and vision. The purpose of this conceptual model is not to provide a detailed description of the components of our HIV services, as these are described in the 2020 ‘IPPF Comprehensive HIV Services Package’ and the IPPF 2022 ‘Client-centred-clinical guidelines for sexual and reproductive health care’. Reading the diagram Our Theory of Change diagram is read from left to right, representing movement in time from the world we currently live in (left side) towards the future we would like to see, which is represented by our vision (right side). There are 7 pathways (page 1), each with a set of strategies (shown on pages 4 and 5 as close-ups of the diagram), whose work contributes towards achieving our HIV goals and vision. The 7 pathways are divided into cross-cutting pathways (community engagement, evidence and learning, capacity strengthening and sharing, strategic partnership building) and core pathways (advocacy, empowerment, comprehensive service delivery). The cross-cutting pathways are iterative and intersecting, contributing to each other and collectively contributing to the 3 core pathways. The core pathways represent the 3 main areas of our HIV programme, which, like all elements of the diagram, also interact with each other synergistically. The strategies of all 7 pathways working together contribute towards a set of outcomes. The outcomes interacting together contribute towards our goals, which in turn interact with each other, and contribute towards our ultimate vision.

HIV
Resource

| 20 November 2023

HIV Theory of Change

Background IPPF offers a comprehensive approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights through its Integrated Package of Essential Services (IPES) which is offered at affiliate service delivery points. The IPES includes HIV testing, HIV prevention, HIV care and treatment, services for sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, contraception, abortion care, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, and support for sexual and gender-based violence Purpose The purpose of our HIV Theory of Change is to clarify the goals and vision of IPPF’s HIV programme and to articulate the different pathways and strategies IPPF uses to contribute towards its HIV goals and vision. This Theory of Change endeavours to represent a conceptual model that is complex and non-linear in the format of a readable diagram. Therefore, this Theory of Change diagram is a simplified representation of a complex process which cannot be fully captured in this format. Our Theory of Change describes causal pathways for how the work in our HIV programme contributes to the ultimate goals and vision. The purpose of this conceptual model is not to provide a detailed description of the components of our HIV services, as these are described in the 2020 ‘IPPF Comprehensive HIV Services Package’ and the IPPF 2022 ‘Client-centred-clinical guidelines for sexual and reproductive health care’. Reading the diagram Our Theory of Change diagram is read from left to right, representing movement in time from the world we currently live in (left side) towards the future we would like to see, which is represented by our vision (right side). There are 7 pathways (page 1), each with a set of strategies (shown on pages 4 and 5 as close-ups of the diagram), whose work contributes towards achieving our HIV goals and vision. The 7 pathways are divided into cross-cutting pathways (community engagement, evidence and learning, capacity strengthening and sharing, strategic partnership building) and core pathways (advocacy, empowerment, comprehensive service delivery). The cross-cutting pathways are iterative and intersecting, contributing to each other and collectively contributing to the 3 core pathways. The core pathways represent the 3 main areas of our HIV programme, which, like all elements of the diagram, also interact with each other synergistically. The strategies of all 7 pathways working together contribute towards a set of outcomes. The outcomes interacting together contribute towards our goals, which in turn interact with each other, and contribute towards our ultimate vision.

biomedical-hiv-prevention
Resource

| 29 March 2023

IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention

Recent advances in biomedical HIV prevention technologies mean more choices are available for people to protect themselves from HIV. Therefore, these technologies must be effectively made available and affordable to all populations who need them. All individuals have a right to sexual and reproductive health, and HIV prevention is a key component necessary to ensure health, well-being, positive sexual lives and the upholding of human rights. Access to these new technologies is a key to successfully meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 3.3: ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This IMAP Statement is intended to update Member Associations across the Federation on biomedical HIV prevention technologies and support their integration of new biomedical HIV prevention services into comprehensive sexual and reproductive health service delivery. Download the statement in English, Spanish, French and Arabic below.

biomedical-hiv-prevention
Resource

| 29 March 2023

IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention

Recent advances in biomedical HIV prevention technologies mean more choices are available for people to protect themselves from HIV. Therefore, these technologies must be effectively made available and affordable to all populations who need them. All individuals have a right to sexual and reproductive health, and HIV prevention is a key component necessary to ensure health, well-being, positive sexual lives and the upholding of human rights. Access to these new technologies is a key to successfully meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 3.3: ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. This IMAP Statement is intended to update Member Associations across the Federation on biomedical HIV prevention technologies and support their integration of new biomedical HIV prevention services into comprehensive sexual and reproductive health service delivery. Download the statement in English, Spanish, French and Arabic below.

n/a
Resource

| 28 July 2022

Technical Brief: Fulfilling the sexual and reproductive rights of women living with HIV, preventing coerced and forced sterilization

The purpose of this technical brief is to promote gender-transformative, rights-based and scientifically accurate information for advocacy and service-delivery to fulfil the sexual and reproductive rights of women, girls and people who have the capacity to become pregnant, who are living with HIV.  In doing so, we also aim to provide sufficient evidence to prevent sexual and reproductive rights violations, especially coerced and/or forced sterilization against those living with HIV. The technical brief documents that coerced and/or forced sterilization of women living with HIV is a persistent and serious human rights violation requiring urgent action. The brief reviews components of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service delivery and international medical guidance to uphold and fulfil the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV to choose if and when to have children.  This brief is primarily intended to inform IPPF Member Associations, secretariat staff, and partners including other SRH service delivery organizations and stakeholders. The brief reinforces IPPF’s position and commitment to person-centred and rights-based HIV care that is integrated within a comprehensive package of SRH services. Download the technical brief below in English or Spanish. 

n/a
Resource

| 28 March 2024

Technical Brief: Fulfilling the sexual and reproductive rights of women living with HIV, preventing coerced and forced sterilization

The purpose of this technical brief is to promote gender-transformative, rights-based and scientifically accurate information for advocacy and service-delivery to fulfil the sexual and reproductive rights of women, girls and people who have the capacity to become pregnant, who are living with HIV.  In doing so, we also aim to provide sufficient evidence to prevent sexual and reproductive rights violations, especially coerced and/or forced sterilization against those living with HIV. The technical brief documents that coerced and/or forced sterilization of women living with HIV is a persistent and serious human rights violation requiring urgent action. The brief reviews components of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service delivery and international medical guidance to uphold and fulfil the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV to choose if and when to have children.  This brief is primarily intended to inform IPPF Member Associations, secretariat staff, and partners including other SRH service delivery organizations and stakeholders. The brief reinforces IPPF’s position and commitment to person-centred and rights-based HIV care that is integrated within a comprehensive package of SRH services. Download the technical brief below in English or Spanish. 

Refugee family
Resource

| 18 June 2020

Forced to flee from home... What would you do?

Forced to flee from home... What would you do?People are being forced from their homes more than ever. Whether they are fleeing conflict or lose their homes to natural disasters, there are an estimated 70.8 million refugees worldwide. Women & girls are often most at risk – the threat of sexual and gender-based violence increases as does the risk of trafficking, and basic healthcare can get overlooked.  We want to know: what would you do under these circumstances? Life has always been largely peaceful in your country until one day civil war suddenly breaks out and you and your family are forced to flee home.Once you cross the border and are settled into a refugee camp, your husband refuses to use contraception and your injectable is only effective for 12 weeks.You are worried you’ll get pregnant again, something you do not want to happen whilst you are in the refugee camp with limited access to healthcare, and whilst your family is already struggling to survive.You decide to:Your name is Fatima, and you are a 29-year-old high school teacher. You are married with two young children – a daughter aged four, and a son, two. After a few months in the camp you realise you are pregnant. Abortion is legal in your host country, but as a refugee you are unsure of your rights and the closest hospital is over 60km away.You hear about abortion pills from other women in the camp that are available through local mobile clinics.You decide to:You seek advice on the methods of contraception available to you from the local outreach worker. You decide on a long-acting contraceptive method called Jadelle, an implant.As you are worried that your husband will find out, the outreach worker advises you to bring him along to a group session on contraception.You decide to:You are able to receive medical abortion pills through a nurse practitioner at the local clinic, who explains you the safe way to take the pills at home. She also provides you with contraception counselling and options for the future. At the local district hospital, medical practitioners are under the misbelief it is not possible to provide surgical abortions to refugees, whilst others refuse to provide abortions on moral grounds, therefore forcing you through an unintended pregnancy. You and your husband attend the family planning session with other couples from the camp. Your husband is convinced of the importance of contraception and you both agree that the Jadelle and condoms are the best options for you to avoid an unintended pregnancy.You now have up to five years of protection against unintended pregnancy. However, you are still worried about the risk of STI and HIV transmission but are unable to talk about contraception to your husband.

Refugee family
Resource

| 18 June 2020

Forced to flee from home... What would you do?

Forced to flee from home... What would you do?People are being forced from their homes more than ever. Whether they are fleeing conflict or lose their homes to natural disasters, there are an estimated 70.8 million refugees worldwide. Women & girls are often most at risk – the threat of sexual and gender-based violence increases as does the risk of trafficking, and basic healthcare can get overlooked.  We want to know: what would you do under these circumstances? Life has always been largely peaceful in your country until one day civil war suddenly breaks out and you and your family are forced to flee home.Once you cross the border and are settled into a refugee camp, your husband refuses to use contraception and your injectable is only effective for 12 weeks.You are worried you’ll get pregnant again, something you do not want to happen whilst you are in the refugee camp with limited access to healthcare, and whilst your family is already struggling to survive.You decide to:Your name is Fatima, and you are a 29-year-old high school teacher. You are married with two young children – a daughter aged four, and a son, two. After a few months in the camp you realise you are pregnant. Abortion is legal in your host country, but as a refugee you are unsure of your rights and the closest hospital is over 60km away.You hear about abortion pills from other women in the camp that are available through local mobile clinics.You decide to:You seek advice on the methods of contraception available to you from the local outreach worker. You decide on a long-acting contraceptive method called Jadelle, an implant.As you are worried that your husband will find out, the outreach worker advises you to bring him along to a group session on contraception.You decide to:You are able to receive medical abortion pills through a nurse practitioner at the local clinic, who explains you the safe way to take the pills at home. She also provides you with contraception counselling and options for the future. At the local district hospital, medical practitioners are under the misbelief it is not possible to provide surgical abortions to refugees, whilst others refuse to provide abortions on moral grounds, therefore forcing you through an unintended pregnancy. You and your husband attend the family planning session with other couples from the camp. Your husband is convinced of the importance of contraception and you both agree that the Jadelle and condoms are the best options for you to avoid an unintended pregnancy.You now have up to five years of protection against unintended pregnancy. However, you are still worried about the risk of STI and HIV transmission but are unable to talk about contraception to your husband.

Beauty parlour-related training
Resource

| 08 August 2019

Watch - Beauty Behind Bars: Life after prison for women in India

India is home to 20 female-only prisons, that have the capacity to hold just 5,000 inmates. Women currently make up 4% of India's prison population. Before they reach prison, many women have already experienced sexual and gender-based violence. Many inmates face discrimination and are often ostracized from their community and their families once they are released. Realizing a gap in care for women once released, the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) have stepped in to ensure women are equipped with not only healthcare whilst in prison but life training skills. Skills that will financially support them and their children with or without the support of their families. Established in 1949, the Family Planning Association of India has provided life skills training ranging from beauty parlour related work to car mechanics to 768 women in six locations.

Beauty parlour-related training
Resource

| 08 August 2019

Watch - Beauty Behind Bars: Life after prison for women in India

India is home to 20 female-only prisons, that have the capacity to hold just 5,000 inmates. Women currently make up 4% of India's prison population. Before they reach prison, many women have already experienced sexual and gender-based violence. Many inmates face discrimination and are often ostracized from their community and their families once they are released. Realizing a gap in care for women once released, the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) have stepped in to ensure women are equipped with not only healthcare whilst in prison but life training skills. Skills that will financially support them and their children with or without the support of their families. Established in 1949, the Family Planning Association of India has provided life skills training ranging from beauty parlour related work to car mechanics to 768 women in six locations.

IMAP Statement ECHO Trial
Resource

| 09 July 2019

IMAP statement on the ECHO trial

The body of evidence on possible increased risk of HIV acquisition with use of progestogen‑only contraception has remained mixed since 1991, with the greatest concern of an increased risk of HIV acquisition centred on the use of intramuscular depot‑medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA‑IM). Data on the risk of HIV acquisition and use of other highly effective contraceptives such as norethisterone enanthate (NET‑EN), hormonal implants, and hormonal and non‑hormonal IUDs are limited.2 And there are no data on subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA‑SC) and HIV risk.  In 2016, an updated systematic review of epidemiological evidence on hormonal contraception and HIV acquisition concluded that there was a significant association between the use of DMPA and HIV acquisition and no increased HIV risk with oral contraceptive pills.3 The updated systematic review provided important data regarding DMPA users at high risk of HIV; however, confounding in these observational data could not be excluded. The historically mixed data and the need to control for confounding required further investigation into the association between use of progestogen‑only injectables and increased risk of HIV acquisition, using a more robust research design. This led to the development of the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) trial.  

IMAP Statement ECHO Trial
Resource

| 09 July 2019

IMAP statement on the ECHO trial

The body of evidence on possible increased risk of HIV acquisition with use of progestogen‑only contraception has remained mixed since 1991, with the greatest concern of an increased risk of HIV acquisition centred on the use of intramuscular depot‑medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA‑IM). Data on the risk of HIV acquisition and use of other highly effective contraceptives such as norethisterone enanthate (NET‑EN), hormonal implants, and hormonal and non‑hormonal IUDs are limited.2 And there are no data on subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA‑SC) and HIV risk.  In 2016, an updated systematic review of epidemiological evidence on hormonal contraception and HIV acquisition concluded that there was a significant association between the use of DMPA and HIV acquisition and no increased HIV risk with oral contraceptive pills.3 The updated systematic review provided important data regarding DMPA users at high risk of HIV; however, confounding in these observational data could not be excluded. The historically mixed data and the need to control for confounding required further investigation into the association between use of progestogen‑only injectables and increased risk of HIV acquisition, using a more robust research design. This led to the development of the Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) trial.