Expanding access and demand for DMPA in Uttar Pradesh Jharkhand and Uttarakhand.

To generate demand for DMPA as a safe and effective contraceptive choice and increase its availability through partnership with commercial and social marketing agencies the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the DIMPA program to expand the choice of modern contraceptive methods to include the three-month injectable DMPA. The program began in 2003 through the Commercial Market Strategies (CMS) project and continued through the Private Sector Partnerships One (PSP-One) USAID global field support mechanism in Uttar Pradesh (UP) Jharkhand and Uttarakhand. Currently the program has a fractional franchising arrangement with 1150 clinics in 45 towns the objectives being to increase awareness of DMPA as a safe and effective method and increase use of DMPA among the target population. Since the current DMPA program will end in September 2009 USAID / India has initiated this evaluation the outcome of which will inform the USAID / India decision on whether the injectable contraceptive options will be exercised under another Mission task order for the Market-based Partnerships in Health (MBP) program. The objectives of the evaluation are to: assess the policy environment for expanding contraceptive choice; assess experience with provision of injectable contraceptives; review the DIMPA program; capture lessons learned; [and] recommend future directions. (Excerpts)