New Research Highlights Need to Scale-Up and Increase Access to Family Planning, Integration of Health Services, Development of Next-Generation Technologies, and Use of Evidence in Family Planning Policies

NEW YORK (21 January 2016)—Population Council experts will present findings from more than 30 studies on sexual and reproductive health and rights at the fourth International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) in Nusa Dua, Indonesia (January 25–28, 2016). The Population Council is a globally recognized nonprofit organization, conducting research to address critical health and development challenges.

Featured Council presentations will focus on advancing the goal of universal access to family planning in light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the development of new contraceptive technologies, integration of family planning with HIV health services, and how to inform policies with sound data and evidence. The Council’s research at ICFP supports a world where high quality, voluntary, right-based family planning information, education and services are available for all.

“The Population Council translates rigorous evidence into meaningful action that benefits underserved populations around the world,” said Julia Bunting, president of the Population Council. “With the recent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals, this conference offers a prime opportunity to share best practices and accelerate progress on reproductive health and rights.”

In conjunction with the conference, the Population Council will host a high-level side event on Advancing the Goal of Universal Access on Sunday, January 24th from 6–9 pm at the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua. Featured speakers include: Dr. Awa Marie Coll-Seck, Minister of Health of Senegal, Jagdish Upadhyay, Chief, Commodity Security Branch, Technical Division, UNFPA, Karl Hofmann, President of PSI, Sivananthi Thanenthiran, Executive Director of ARROW, Julia Bunting, President of Population Council, and John Townsend, Vice President of Population Council. Speakers will spotlight successful strategies to ensure that voluntary, right-based family planning information, education and services are fully integrated into local, national and global strategies.

“Quality and an emphasis on human rights should be the foundation of all of our work in the family planning field,” said John Townsend, PhD, vice president and director of the Population Council's Reproductive Health program. “We need to enhance our focus on investing in and measuring quality of care and services.”

Other noteworthy Population Council presentations at ICFP include:

Sunday, January 24th:

Senior Associate Laura Reichenbach presenting at Evidence Project satellite session: “Implementation science approaches to FP and RH: Experiential learning and sharing for implementers, policy makers, advocates and researchers” (9:00 am–2:00 pm)

Tuesday, January 26th:

President Julia Bunting moderating breakfast panel on “The future of financing for sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights” (7:00–8:20 am)

Distinguished Scholar Anrudh K. Jain speaking on PAI breakfast panel: “Defining quality: New approaches to understanding quality of family planning” (7:00–8:20 am)

Pakistan Country Director and Senior Associate Zeba Sathar speaking on panel: “Are we there yet? Progress towards the FP2020 goal, July 2012 to July 2015” (10:30–11:50 am)

Senior Research Associate Elena Hoskin oral presentation on "Current views on cycle control and bleeding patterns produced by use of hormonal contraceptives; cycle control observed from a novel contraceptive vaginal ring containing 150 μg Nestorone® and 15μg Ethinyl Estradiol daily" (12:00–1:20 pm)

Vice President John Townsend moderating roundtable on “Slowing us down: How FGM/C hinders access to family planning” (1:20–2:20 pm)

Wednesday, January 27th:

President Julia Bunting speaking on conference plenary “Youth: Challenging old assumptions, forging a new agenda” (8:30–10:00 am)

Associate Heather Clark oral presentation on “Progesterone contraceptive vaginal ring: Results of an acceptability study in Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal” (10:30–11:50 am)

Kenya Country Director Harriet Birungi speaking on panel: "Stakeholder-driven demand creation for vaginal rings in Senegal by assessing willingness to (pay, provide & procure)" (10:30–11:50 am)

President Julia Bunting speaking on panel: “New leaders framing the future discourse on family planning” (12:00–1:20 pm)

Vice President John Townsend and Elena Hoskin speaking on panel on “Ethical aspects of introducing new contraceptives in low resource settings” (2:30–3:50 pm)

Kenya Country Director Harriet Birungi oral presentation on “Education sector responses to early and unintended pregnancy: A review of country experience in sub-Saharan Africa” (4:20–5:40 pm)

Thursday, January 28th:

VP and Distinguished Scholar John Bongaarts oral presentation on “Africa’s unique transition in reproductive behavior” (10:30–11:50 am)

Senior Associate Karen Hardee speaking on panel: “What does choice of methods mean using a human rights frame?" (10:30–11:50 am)

About the Population Council

The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, we work with our partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization governed by an international board of trustees.

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Media contact

Mariam Khan: makhan@popcouncil.org; +1-917-445-1774

If you would like embargoed access to any of the above studies, please contact Mariam Khan.