In a new commentary in the journal Contraception, leaders from across Population Council offices and centers for social science and biomedical research came together to call for increasing contraceptive choice and access to self-managed methods in light of challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authors advocate for the expansion of healthcare to include self-care approaches, which encompasses de-medicalizing contraception; expanding the mix of self-administered contraceptive; and increasing individual agency in determining what method they use, when they use it, and where they obtain it.
The powerful commentary is authored by Lisa Haddad, the Medical Director for our Center for Biomedical Research; Saumya RamaRao, a Senior Associate in our reproductive health research program; Avishek Hazra, a Senior Program Officer III in our India office; Harriet Birungi, the Country Director of our Kenya office; and Jim Sailer, the Executive Director of our Center for Biomedical Research.