Population Council to present more than 40 studies at International Conference on Family Planning

(Press-News.org) Contact information: Sasha Gruber
sgruber@popcouncil.org
760-351-6420
Population Council
Population Council to present more than 40 studies at International Conference on Family Planning Research will highlight development of new contraceptive technologies, strategies for expanding access to family planning, and efforts to promote gender equity NEW YORK (4 November 2013) – The Population Council, an international organization that conducts research to address critical health and development issues, will present findings from more than 40 studies at the International Conference on Family Planning in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (November 12-15, 2013).

Notable presentations will focus on the positive impact of investing in programs that strengthen gender equity; improve financing mechanisms to reduce inequities and increase the use of long-acting contraceptives; bolster family planning interventions for young people; and discuss challenges and opportunities for introducing new contraceptives to advance the health and well-being of women and their families.

"This conference provides a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, collaborate, and learn from the experience of our partners as we work towards our shared goal of improving access to quality family planning," said John W. Townsend, Ph.D., vice president and director of the Population Council's Reproductive Health program. "We look forward to discussing how innovations in contraceptive technology, financing strategies, and gender equity can improve the health and well-being of those living in poor and underserved communities."

Dr. Ruth Merkatz, Director of Clinical Development in the Council's Reproductive Health program, will present research on the Council's investigational one-year contraceptive vaginal ring and the Council's progesterone vaginal ring during a U.S. Agency for International Development-sponsored press conference (Thursday, November 14 from 14:30-15:30 (2:30-3:30 PM). The press conference, focusing on improved and new contraceptive technologies, will take place in Briefing Room #5.

The Council will also launch a new book, The Unfinished Agenda to Meet FP2020 Goals: 12 Actions to Fill Critical Evidence Gaps, at the conference. Council authors Ian Askew and Martha Brady will be available for a meet-the-authors session at Booths #35 and #37 on Wednesday, November 13 from 13:30-14:30 (1:30-2:30 PM). Book supplies are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

A list of notable Council presentations is included below. A full list of Council presentations can be found at: http://www.popcouncil.org/mediacenter/events/2013ICFP/home.asp.

Special Sessions Thursday, November 14 (8:30 AM): "The young and the restless: Effective teenage pregnancy prevention programs" (Tigest Tamrat, Berhane Hewan project) Friday, November 15 (10:30-11:50 AM): Best in Class: Top Scientific Research. "Developing a model of acceptability for a new long-acting contraceptive vaginal ring" (Ruth Merkatz – Large Conference Hall)

Council Participation in Panel Sessions Wednesday, November 13 10:30-11:50 AM: "Progesterone Vaginal Ring: Assessing its acceptability to users and critical stakeholders" (Saumya RamaRao – Medium Conference Hall) 12:00-1:20 PM: "Development of the Nestorone®/Ethinyl Estradiol Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (NES/EE CVR): Challenges, opportunities, and obligations of a non-governmental organization" (Ruth Merkatz – Large Conference Hall) 2:30-3:50 PM: "Provision of emergency contraception as part of comprehensive post rape care: Experience from South Africa" (Ravikanthi Rapiti – 2nd Level, Small Conference Hall 2) 2:30-3:50 PM: "Evaluation of a reproductive health program for married adolescents and husbands in rural Ethiopia" (Annabel Erulkar – Second Level, Caucus Room 17) 4:20-5:40 PM: "Improving uptake of family planning and HIV counseling and testing services among postpartum women in Kenya: Findings from the Integra Initiative" (James Kimani – Old Building, Small Conference Hall)

Thursday, November 14 12:00-1:20 PM: "Adapting the WHO tool on sexual and reproductive health and human rights: Experiences in four countries" (Ian Askew – Ground Floor, Briefing Room 3) 2:30-3:50 PM: "Documenting quality in integrated services: The Assessing Integration Methodology (AIM)" (Harriet Birungi – Old Building, Medium Conference Hall)

Friday, November 15 12:00-1:20 PM: "Constructing a socio-behavioral framework for multipurpose prevention technologies: Lessons learned from family planning" (Martha Brady – 3rd Level, Small Conference Hall 3)

Oral Presentations Wednesday, November 13 10:30-11:50 AM: "Introducing the Progesterone Vaginal Ring (PVR) as a new method of postpartum family planning in sub-Saharan Africa: The role of stakeholders' engagement in planning and implementation" (Salisu Ishaku – Old Building, Medium Conference Hall) 10:30-11:50 AM: "Fertility and infertility in men: A male contraception R&D view from both sides" (Patricia Morris and John Townsend - Second Level, Caucus Room 18) 12:00-1:20 PM: "Re-invigorating male involvement in family planning: An assessment in southern Ghana" (Gertrude Nsorma Nyaaba – Old Building, Small Conference Hall) 4:20-5:40 PM: "Community-level task sharing teams—The potential to strengthen community based family planning services: The dual cadre approach" (Charlotte Warren – Ground Floor, Briefing Room 3) 4:20-5:40 PM: "Quality of care and client willingness to pay: An assessment of MSI family planning services in Burkina Faso" (Placide Tapsoba – Third Level, Small Conference Hall 3)

Thursday, November 14 10:30-11:50 AM: "Review of performance-based incentive models for community-based family planning programs" (Ian Askew – Second Level, Caucus Room 18) 10:30-11:50 AM: "User-controlled long-acting reversible contraception: The pharmacokinetic profile of the Nestorone®/Ethinyl Estradiol Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (NES/EE CVR): A 1-year cyclical re-useable vaginal ring" (George Creasy – Second Level, Caucus Room 19) 12:00-1:20 PM: "The effect of a voucher program on the uptake of long-acting and permanent methods of contraception (LAPMs) in Kenya: A quasi-experimental study" (Sam Wangila Wafula – Second Level, Caucus Room 20) 2:30-3:50 PM: ""The impact of a reproductive health voucher program on increasing uptake of long-acting and permanent family planning methods in Cambodia: Evidence from a difference in difference analysis" (Ashish Bajracharya – Ground Floor, Briefing Room 4) 4:20-5:40 PM: "Organizing the evidence on family planning voucher programs: A taxonomy of program implementation and studies" (Ben Bellows – Second Level, Caucus Room 24) 4:20-5:40 PM: "Determinants of contraceptive behavior and unmet need for family planning among rural young women in three states of India" (Daliya Sebastian and Mary Philip Sebastian – Ground Floor, Briefing Room 4)

Friday, November 15 10:30-11:50 AM: "Men's gender equity ideologies, women's control of family planning and family size, and unmet need for contraception among married couples in rural India" (Mohan Ghule and Niranjan Saggurti – Second Level, Caucus Room 18) 12:00-1:20 PM: "Improving postnatal family planning uptake in Kenya: Evidence from facility-level integration of postnatal and HIV services" (James Kimani – Second Level, Caucus Room 18)

### 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.

Media contact Sasha Gruber: sgruber@popcouncil.org; +1-760-351-6420