How to Introduce and Scale Up Sayana Press: Practical Guidance From PATH Based on Lessons Learned During Pilot Introduction

Publication date: 2017

HOW TO INTRODUCE AND SCALE UP SAYANA PRESS (DMPA-SC IN UNIJECT) Practical guidance from PATH based on lessons learned during pilot introduction ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This document was written by members of the Sayana® Press project team, with principal contributions from Siri Wood, Jennifer Kidwell Drake, Sara Tifft, Anna Stout, and Beth Balderston. Input from Jane Cover, Ellen MacLachlan, Rachel Hien, Leigh Priester, Jeanette Lim, Jerry Parks, Marguerite Ndour, Fiona Walugembe, Alain Kaboré, Daouda Siddo, and Martha Brady also make this document possible. The document was edited by John Ballenot and designed by Shawn Kavon and Jean-Pierre Leguillou. This project was supported by grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. PATH would like to acknowledge the important work of several key partners during pilot introduction, including ministries of health in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda; Childfund International, Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU), IntraHealth International; Pathfinder International; Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU); Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG); and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Other collaborating agencies include L’Agence pour le Développement du Marketing Social (ADEMAS), Association Nigérienne de Marketing Social (ANIMAS-SUTURA), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), FHI 360, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and country affiliates, Marie Stopes International (MSI) and country offices, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and WellShare International. The views expressed herein are solely those of PATH and do not necessarily reflect the views of the donors or partners. Suggested citation: PATH. How to Introduce and Scale Up Sayana Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject): Practical Guidance from PATH Based on Lessons Learned During Pilot Introduction. Seattle: PATH; 2017. Copyright © 2017, PATH. All rights reserved. The material in this document may be freely used for educational or noncommercial purposes, provided that the material is accompanied by an acknowledgment line. Photos and client profiles have been used with permission. Sayana Press, Depo-Provera, and depo-subQ provera 104 are registered trademarks of Pfizer Inc. Uniject is a trademark of BD. Cover photo: PATH/Will Boase Street address 2201 Westlake Avenue, Suite 200 Seattle, WA 98121 USA Mailing address PO Box 900922 Seattle, WA 98109 USA info@path.org www.path.org 1. Overview . 2. Background . • About the product . • Results from pilot introductions . • Using product introduction to strengthen health systems . • Self-injection as an emerging practice . 3. Stakeholder engagement and coordination . • The value of centralized, country-level coordination for moving forward . • Maximizing learning and information exchange to identify new opportunities . • Clearly defining partner roles to improve coordination and accountability . 4. Planning the country introduction strategy . • Designing the introduction strategy to achieve desired results . • Distribution through the private sector . 5. Registration . • Registration processes and responsibility . • Unpredictability of registration timelines . 6. Quantification and procurement . • Quantification process: How much product is needed for pilot introduction? . 7. Training and supervising providers . • Assessing training needs . • Training drives introduction results . • Curriculum and content decisions . • Evaluating provider competency after training . • Training providers to collect data . • Self-injection: Training providers to be trainers . • The value of supervision after training . 8. Generating demand . • Communications guidance for Sayana Press partners . 7 14 16 17 19 20 23 25 27 28 31 32 37 45 45 47 51 52 58 59 60 62 63 66 66 68 72 75 CONTENTS 9. Product distribution . • Effects of product distribution approaches on program costs and results . • Tracking distribution to identify and address problems . • Supplies: It is not just about Sayana Press . 10. Monitoring and evaluation . • Selecting and defining indicators . • The need for a monitoring plan and resources for implementation . • Methods for data collection and reporting . • Evaluating Sayana Press introduction: Understanding cost, continuation, and impact . 11. Moving from introduction to scale . • Factors driving decision-making on scale-up . • Four distinct national scale-up decisions . • True scale will require a lot more work—in these four countries and beyond . 80 81 85 86 89 90 92 94 95 100 100 101 103 ABBREVIATIONS ABBEF Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-Etre Familial ADEMAS L’Agence pour le Développement du Marketing Social (Senegal) AIS agents itinerant de santé (outreach workers) AMC average monthly consumption ANBEF Association Nigérienne pour le Bien-Etre Familial ANIMAS-SUTURA Association Nigérienne de Marketing Social ASBEF Association Sénégalaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial BD Becton Dickinson CBD community-based distribution CDFU Communication for Development Foundation Uganda CHW community health worker DHS Demographic and Health Surveys DMPA depot medroxyprogesterone acetate DMPA-IM generic name for the intramuscular form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate DMPA-SC generic name for the subcutaneous form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate FP2020 Family Planning 2020 GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit HIS health information system HIV human immunodeficiency virus IM intramuscular IPM Informed Push Model IPPF International Planned Parenthood Federation MHRA Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MOH ministry of health MSBF Marie Stopes Burkina Faso MSI Marie Stopes International MSS Marie Stopes Senegal NGO nongovernmental organization RHU Reproductive Health Uganda UHMG Uganda Health Marketing Group UK United Kingdom UNFPA United Nations Population Fund USAID US Agency for International Development USD US dollar VHT Village Health Team WHO World Health Organization Sayana Press, Depo-Provera, and Depo-SubQ Provera 104 are registered trademarks of Pfizer Inc. Uniject is a trademark of BD. HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT This document was created to support ministry of health and nongovernmental implementing partners as they develop strategies and activities to introduce and scale up Sayana® Press (generic: DMPA-SC in Uniject) in the hopes of expanding the contraceptive method mix and increasing access. Offering women a new, easy-to-access option for injectable contraception promises to transform family planning, especially for women in remote locations. The content provides practical guidance based on results, evidence, and learning from the pilot introductions of Sayana Press in four countries in Africa. It focuses mainly on PATH’s successful experience coordinating introduction of Sayana Press administered by providers. Self-injection was not yet approved or practiced outside a research context in any of the four countries during the pilot phase. The document is modular and can be accessed one section at a time or in its entirety. Each section describes PATH’s experience during the pilot introductions and includes results, introduction tips and lessons learned, case studies, recommendations, and practical resources. The guide is an introduction planning resource most applicable to countries that have already decided to introduce Sayana Press; the guide does not cover the decision-making process itself. It is organized in 11 sections: 1. Overview 2. Background 3. Stakeholder engagement and coordination 4. Planning the country introduction strategy 5. Registration 6. Quantification and procurement 7. Training and supervising providers 8. Generating demand 9. Product distribution 10. Monitoring and evaluation 11. Moving from introduction to scale Most steps in the product introduction process are applicable to many products, and numerous resources exist to guide implementers in steps such as planning and conducting a landscape assessment or leading training and supervision. This guide touches only briefly on the generic introduction process and delves more deeply into aspects that were unique to the process of piloting the Sayana Press contraceptive technology. Insights from the first introductions can help inform new country experiences and transitions, whether small pilots or scaled delivery. The entire PATH Sayana Press team and our valued partners hope you will find this guide to be an inspirational, relevant, and practical resource. You can play a key role in the next round of work to extend the benefits of this transformative contraceptive product to more women and families around the world. Sayana Press is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc. Uniject is a trademark of BD. 7 SETTING THE STAGE FOR EXPANDED CHOICE In a groundbreaking initiative coordinated by PATH, Sayana® Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject™) was made available from family planning providers in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda beginning in 2014. The pilot introductions sought to better understand the potential market for a prefilled injectable and to evaluate the impact of introduction in a variety of country settings and distribution scenarios. Introductions were largely in the public sector in close collaboration with country governments, but also included several private, nonprofit service-provision agencies. During the two-year life of the pilots, PATH gathered a rich repository of results that point to the product’s significant potential to broaden the contraceptive method mix, facilitate the provision of injectables by community health workers as well as health care professionals based at facilities, appeal to new family planning users, and empower women to exercise more control over family planning decisions. This publication distills the most Overview 1 pertinent results and interesting learnings from the pilot introductions and proposes practical guidance to inform the next generation of Sayana Press introduction and scale-up efforts. Injectable contraceptives are an important option for preventing pregnancy, chosen by many women worldwide for their safe and effective protection, convenience, and privacy. Innovative products such as Sayana Press, a lower-dose formulation and “all-in-one” subcutaneous presentation of Depo-Provera®, can expand family planning access by increasing opportunities for lower-level health workers and even clients themselves to administer injections. The pilot introductions offered injectable contraception to many communities for the first time, closer to where women live. The results presented in this guide have supported decisions to scale up Sayana Press in the four pilot countries. They can also help stakeholders in other settings make informed decisions about whether and how to include this option in their family planning programs in the future. Self-injection research conducted by PATH and government partners in Senegal and Uganda PA TH /W ill B oa se S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 8 built on the introductions and indicated that self-injection is likely to be feasible and acceptable. Results available to date indicate that self-injection has compelling potential to expand access and empower women to manage their reproductive health effectively and privately. PATH, ministries of health, and partners have gained experience, knowledge, and resources that can benefit donors, governments, and other groups working to introduce and scale up use of Sayana Press or similar products. Based on lessons learned by PATH and our partners during the pilot introductions, we offer a number of key recommendations, as outlined below. stakeholder engagement and coordination • Build relationships with ministry of health counterparts. Building and nurturing strong, two-way relationships with ministry of health (MOH) counterparts will help ensure a smooth transition toward scale-up. • Designate an individual or agency responsible for coordinating stakeholders and their activities. A well-defined lead person or agency can keep activities moving forward, assist in sharing of information and resources, and serve as a clear point for communications among all partners, including the MOH and donors. • Define partners’ roles and mechanisms for coordinating introduction in a written plan. Given the complexity of new product introduction, there is a great risk that planning and implementation will be stalled without a clear plan for engagement and coordination among the MOH and civil society organizations. • Widely share experience and results from product introduction. Many stakeholders across settings will benefit from learnings on product introduction and may identify exciting new opportunities for the product to increase women’s contraceptive access. Planning the country introduction strategy • To reach large volumes, introduce Sayana Press at all levels of the health system in large geographies. Do not discount the potential for more remote and community- level channels to achieve large volumes as well, particularly when supported by communication and outreach efforts. • To reach the largest number of new users, prioritize community-level delivery and offer injectables where previously unavailable. Increasing the number of new family planning users can contribute to reducing unmet need and increasing contraceptive prevalence. • Expect high volumes of Sayana Press compared to DMPA-IM in community- level delivery channels. Data from the pilot introductions reinforce early research data on acceptability of, and preference for, Sayana Press among community-level providers and their clients. • Consider opportunities for Sayana Press to increase access for young women. Explore a variety of public and private delivery channels and consider what additional training, supervision, and communications activities are needed to support and sustain access for young women and adolescent girls. • Invest in total market introduction from the origins of introduction planning and beyond. Limited data available on Sayana Press introduction in private-sector channels indicate that these outlets hold great potential to increase access. Product registration • Get up to speed on the status of Sayana Press registration globally. Know that the safety, efficacy, and quality of this product have been thoroughly vetted. Understanding key facts about the product’s regulatory history that the drug is approved in the United States and Europe, and that it is approved for self-injection by a stringent regulatory authority—can be useful for navigating introduction and scale-up. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 9 • Build flexibility into introduction plan timelines. Registration is the manufacturer’s responsibility, and national processes are often unpredictable. National product registration processes often take much more time than expected. • Track the registration process and know what can be done to move introduction forward in the meantime. While waiting for registration, it is helpful to stay in touch with key MOH staff and the manufacturer’s point person, in case questions or obstacles arise that require coordination. Introduction planning activities such as development/adaptation of the monitoring system, training curriculum, and communication campaigns can begin before registration is in hand. Quantification and Procurement • Use the introduction plan to guide quantification. Information from the introduction plan should inform the quantification exercise for initial procurement requirements. Key information includes the number, types, and locations of providers to be trained to administer the product and the timing of the trainings. • Consider data on doses administered per provider from similar delivery strategies. PATH data from the pilot countries show a wide range of doses administered per provider, from 3 units per month administered by community providers in Senegal to 14 units per month administered by facility-based providers in the nongovernmental-organization sector in Burkina Faso. Consider the ways these contexts vary to determine their relevance for quantification assumptions in new settings. • Use multiple sources to achieve accurate quantification. In addition to service delivery and training inputs, the initial product quantification process requires considering the manufacturer’s planning horizons, product shelf life and expiry dates, country policies, and the timing for receipt of final formal registration. training and suPervising Providers • Start by assessing who needs training on what topics throughout the family planning delivery system. Do not overlook key players such as supervisors or outreach workers who might be women’s first point of contact with the system, even if they cannot administer injections. • For quick product uptake and rollout, implement a simultaneous training cascade. This approach requires strong master trainers who are highly familiar with the product. Using a country’s existing government trainers will increase sustainability. • Design training for community health workers to meet their needs. Community health workers (CHWs) in most settings are fully capable of administering Sayana Press in the context of informed choice. Ensure the curriculum covers all family planning content that is unfamiliar to them and meets them where they are, in terms of literacy, knowledge, and geography (to the extent possible). • Informed choice is always a priority in training and supervision, no matter what. Emphasizing that Sayana Press is one option among many is especially important to counteract providers’ (often well-intentioned) excitement about a new product. Sayana Press will not be the right option for all, or even many, women. Address informed choice especially if your training only covers Sayana Press or injectable administration. • Design your curriculum to suit your context. Adapt PATH’s field-tested curriculum as needed, considering whether it should cover Sayana Press or family planning comprehensively; also, consider the data you are expecting providers to collect. • Invest in high-quality supervision. Supervision can help ensure that competencies transferred during group trainings are thoroughly mastered by each individual and that s/he can transfer them to the workplace. Plan for clear expectations S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 0 about who will conduct supervision, how often, and using what approaches. generating demand • Use partner strengths and available evidence to select communications approaches. In addition to traditional mass media, demand-generation strategies may include outreach to social and religious groups, development or modification of community theater dramas, and establishment of easy-to-access, confidential information sources such as toll-free hotlines and print materials that describe each contraceptive method in detail, including side effects. • Consider using radio and health workers for interpersonal communications. Putting these channels to work requires the development of appropriate materials that support health workers to counsel their clients on family planning methods and side effects. Radio programs or “spots” should be developed to reach both men and women in a community or region with positive messages about family planning. • The timing and range of behavior change communications activities should align with the overall introduction or scale-up strategy. If a new product like Sayana Press is promoted before the product is available in local health facilities, clients may feel frustrated. If communications activities are delayed too long, project resources may be insufficient or campaigns may not have enough time to have a long-term impact, such as shifting social norms. Product distribution • Invest in distribution systems to ensure Sayana Press will be consistently available. Introduction of a novel technology shines a light on the strengths and weaknesses of existing distribution systems. An innovation’s potential to increase access is only as good as the distribution system that delivers it. Broader investments may be required for successful introduction—especially at the most peripheral levels (e.g., CHWs). • Map the supply chain. Investigating and mapping the supply chain from the central warehouse all the way to the end user can help identify potential obstacles and identify the agencies and individuals who are responsible for various tasks. PA TH /G ab e Bi en cz yc ki S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 1 • Consider whether a “push” or a “pull” system is most appropriate for Sayana Press introduction and ongoing distribution. Generally, push systems work well to minimize stockouts but are costly. They also tend to be less sustainable and require a complex transition if and when a product moves to scale. Most countries have pull systems, which may be more likely to experience stockouts that interrupt consumption. Working with these systems increases sustainability and minimizes costs. • Review monitoring data to assess the functioning of the distribution system. A higher number of doses distributed than doses administered during a distinct time period indicates that the distribution system is functioning. • Account for shelf life of available Sayana Press units and product expiry. Sayana Press has a three-year shelf life. Ensure that there is a plan for tracking product expiry and recapturing units in advance of their expiry. Sufficient stock should be distributed to the field in advance of product expiry. monitoring and evaluation • Start early. Designing the monitoring system should coincide with planning an introduction or scale-up strategy. Delays in implementing the monitoring system will likely result in missing information about the product’s impact. • Use consistent definitions. Consistent and careful definition of indicators within and across countries can ensure they will provide meaningful information. Sometimes an absolute number is meaningful to get a sense of volume, but at other times a percentage calculation can provide richer information. • Keep the scale of data collection manageable and only collect data you need. To avoid undue effort and expense, first ensure that all data are valuable and feasible to collect. • Budget adequately for data collection. The time and financial resources needed to conduct monitoring well are often underestimated. Be sure to adequately prepare and finance the monitoring plan in advance. • Ensure the monitoring approach captures the contributions of more peripheral channels. If community-based distribution (CBD) is introduced but data are rolled into the referral facility, the ability to measure the CBD contribution to a program is lost. When designing a monitoring system and forms, intentionally disaggregate data for any new delivery channels—such as CBD— to enable analysis of service innovations. • Train providers on monitoring tools and systems. It is most cost-efficient and strategic to train providers on the monitoring tools at the same time they are trained on Sayana Press. Training on data collection through supervision is more costly and requires correcting already- established habits. • Consider whether evaluation or operations research activities are needed to provide additional information. Monitoring data help understand numbers and trends, however some questions are best answered through in-depth qualitative or quantitative evaluation (e.g.; client or provider surveys) or operations research. moving from introduction to scale • Consider options and requirements for vertical and horizontal scale. To achieve vertical scale, does the product need to be integrated into any existing guidelines or policies (e.g., Essential Medicines Lists, other)? In terms of horizontal scale, does moving Sayana Press beyond facilities to the community level necessitate policy changes? Would moving to new geographies reach new groups with unmet need? • Work closely with the national MOH and other key groups to plan for scale. National stakeholder engagement resulted in a relatively smooth and organic transition from pilot introduction to scale-up in all four countries. In addition, the fact that many groups were involved S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 2 and bought in meant that they were more likely to leverage existing family planning resources to support scale-up. • Scale may be possible before all the evidence is in. In many of the pilot countries, decision-makers independently moved to scale up introduction based on monitoring data, before results of impact or cost-effectiveness analyses were available. • Remember that scale-up may not be the right outcome for every technology in every setting. The Sayana Press pilot introductions in the first four pilot countries went very well, and global circumstances were also favorable. Different contexts and experiences may result in different outcomes. Following these recommendations will increase the likelihood of successful outcomes in countries that are introducing Sayana Press or scaling up use. Making this unique product available to CHWs and other providers will give many women, families, and communities, especially in remote regions, a new option for effective, convenient, and private contraception. Self- injection may prove especially valuable for overcoming access barriers and increasing women’s ability to manage their reproductive health. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 3 Senegal 120,861 Burkina Faso 194,965 Uganda 130,673 Niger 43,801 PILOT COUNTRIES Burkina Faso Niger Senegal Uganda LEAD PARTNERS PATH Ministries of health United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) PILOT RESULTS Total doses administered: . Proportion of doses administered to women under 25 years old: . New users of family planning: . Proportion of doses administered to new users: . Number of providers trained: . Switching from DMPA-IM: . Proportion of injectables that were Sayana Press doses (community level): . Proportion of injectables that were Sayana Press doses (all levels): . PILOT DURATIONS July 2014–June 2016 490,300 44% (except Burkina Faso) 120,000 29% 7,568 11% (except Niger) 75% (Senegal, Uganda only) 22% (Senegal, Burkina Faso only) Nearly half a million doses of Sayana Press administered across four pilot countries. PATH SAYANA PRESS PILOT RESULTS 1 4 EXPANDING CONTRACEPTIVE ACCESS AND OPTIONS Injectable contraceptives are an important option for preventing unintended pregnancy, chosen by many women worldwide for their safe and effective protection, convenience, and privacy. Innovative, next-generation products like Sayana Press, a lower-dose formulation and “all-in-one” subcutaneous presentation of Depo-Provera®, can dramatically expand family planning access by increasing opportunities for lay health workers and even clients themselves to administer injections. Sayana Press is also known as DMPA-SC in Uniject. For decades, PATH has championed the development and delivery of a product like Sayana Press to expand women’s family Background 2 planning access and options—first by developing the Uniject injection system, now licensed to Becton Dickinson (BD), and later by serving as a “matchmaker” between BD and Pfizer Inc., the manufacturer of Depo- Provera. The opportunity to introduce any contraceptive innovation, in the context of informed choice and a broad method mix, can result in increased investment and attention for a country’s family planning program. After years of planning, under a country-led initiative coordinated by PATH, Sayana Press was made available from family planning providers in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda in 2014. These introductions offered injectable contraception in many communities for the first time, closer to where women live. Self-injection research conducted by PATH and government PA TH /W ill B oa se The introduction of Sayana® Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject™) promises to expand women’s access to family planning options by increasing opportunities for lower-level health workers and even clients themselves to administer injectable contraceptives. Insights from the first introductions can help inform new country experiences and transitions, whether small pilots or scaled delivery. This section provides a background of the product and the introduction pilots in four countries. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 5 partners in Senegal and Uganda builds on the introductions and indicates that self-injection is likely to be feasible and acceptable. When Sayana Press was first presented as an option to the pilot countries prior to 2013, its price per dose was higher than the cost of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA; the active ingredient in Depo-Provera) for intramuscular (IM) administration. While interested in the product’s potential, international donor agencies and country governments were hesitant to invest in a more expensive presentation. Global interest in Sayana Press increased in 2014 when the product became available to qualified purchasers in the world’s 69 poorest countries for 1 US dollar (USD) per dose—much closer to the price of Depo-Provera (Novel agreement expands access to Pfizer’s contraceptive, Sayana® Press [press release]. Available at www.pfizer.com/news/press- release/press-release-detail/novel_agreement_ expands_access_to_pfizer_s_contraceptive_ sayana_press_for_women_most_in_need_in_ the_world_s_poorest_countries). Introduction of the product, which includes self-injection research studies, is happening in 14 countries and growing; this is being led by many different groups and funded by a variety of donors. The price of Sayana Press for the end user varies across country settings, depending on the delivery channel and price parameters set by country governments for contraceptive supplies (see table). Public sector Private/ngo sector Product + consultation Product Consultation NGO/delivery channel Burkina Faso 250 XOF (0.40 USD) 600 XOF (0.96 USD) 250 XOF (0.40 USD) 250 XOF (0.40 USD) 250 XOF (0.40 USD) 250 XOF (0.40 USD) 200 XOF (0.32 USD)* Free 500 XOF (0.81 USD)* 300 XOF (0.48 USD)* Free MSI clinics MSI mobile outreach ABBEF clinics ABBEF youth centers ABBEF mobile outreach Niger Free 200 FCFA (0.32 USD) ANIMAS-SUTURA, CBD of SUTURA Press and partner pharmacies Senegal Product 200 XOF (0.32 USD) Consultation 300–1,000 XOF (0.48–1.62 USD) 200 XOF (0.32 USD) 200 XOF (0.32 USD) 200 XOF (0.32 USD) Free 1,000 XOF (1.62 USD) 1,200 XOF (1.94 USD) 2,000-2,500 XOF (3.23–4.00 USD) 1,000 XOF (1.62 USD) for reinjection Free Free 1,000 XOF (1.62 USD) MSI center or franchise Marie Stopes Ladies and mobile outreach MSI youth centers ASBEF Securil Press, sold in pharmacies Uganda Free 1,000 UGX (0.28 USD) MSI and RHU Note: ABBEF, Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-Etre Familial; ANIMAS-SUTURA, Association Nigérienne de Marketing Social; ASBEF, Association Sénégalaise pour le Bien Etre Familial; CBD, community-based distribution; FCFA, franc des colonies françaises d’Afrique; MS, ; MSI, Marie Stopes International; NGO, nongovernmental organization; RHU, Reproductive Health Uganda; UGX, currency code for Ugandan Shilling; USD, US dollar; XOF, currency code for Communauté Financière Africaine. * At reinjection, clients pays for product only (no consultation fee). Product pricing for family planning clients in pilot introduction countries S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 6 PATH, ministries of health (MOHs), and partners have gained experience, knowledge, and resources on Sayana Press use through self-injection—and, eventually, introduction or scale-up of similar products. These can benefit donors, governments, and implementers who are working on Sayana Press introduction or scale-up. To share this information, results of the pilots, and related resources, PATH has produced this practical guide based on lessons learned through the Sayana Press pilot introduction project. ABOUT THE PRODUCT Sayana Press is a unique three-month, progestin- only injectable contraceptive that combines the drug and needle in the Uniject injection system. It is small and easy to use, and it requires minimal training, making it especially suitable for community-based distribution—and for women to administer themselves through self-injection. Sayana Press can improve access to a safe and effective contraceptive option, and increase women’s autonomy, in the context of a full method mix. Sayana Press has several characteristics that make it well suited for low-income country settings, particularly in remote and rural areas: • Ease of use. Allows use by trained lower- level health workers and offers the potential for self-injection. • Prefilled single unit. Ensures that the correct dose is given, simplifies procurement and logistics, eliminates the need to bundle vials and syringes, and prevents their potential mismatch at service delivery points. • Not reusable. Minimizes transmission of blood-borne pathogens through needle reuse. • Compact size. Eases transport, storage, and disposal. Sayana Press is 62 percent less Lexicon of injectable DMPA products MPA: Medroxyprogesterone acetate, the active contraceptive agent. DMPA: Depot MPA. When injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously, MPA forms a reservoir or depot that releases the drug over time. DMPA-IM: Generic name for the intramuscular form of DMPA. DMPA-SC: Generic name for the subcutaneous form of DMPA. Depo-Provera®: Pfizer Inc. brand of DMPA- IM, available in vials or prefilled syringes. Depo-subQ provera 104®: Pfizer brand of DMPA SC in prefilled syringes. Sayana®: Pfizer Limited (United Kingdom) brand of DMPA SC in prefilled syringes, licensed in the United Kingdom and some other countries. Sayana® Press: Pfizer Limited brand of DMPA SC in the Uniject™ injection system. Sayana, Sayana Press, and Depo‐Provera are registered trademarks of Pfizer Inc. Uniject is a trademark of BD.      S A Y A N A   P R E S S   P R O J E C T   Sayana Press: Product and Project Summary  Injectable contraceptives are among the world’s most widely used methods for preventing pregnancy, offering women safe and effective protection, convenience, and privacy. Until now, access to injectables has often been limited to clinic settings. Sayana® Press can improve contraceptive access; it is small, light, easy to use, and requires minimal training—making it especially suitable for community-based distribution and for women to administer themselves through self-injection. IMPROVING ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION  PATH and partners are coordinating country-led pilot introductions of Sayana Press in sub-Saharan Africa and conducting research on the impact of Sayana Press provided through a range of delivery channels, including self-injection. Sayana Press introductions in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Senegal have made injectable contraceptives a routine part of community-level health care for the first time, giving women convenient access in their own villages. In Uganda, the Sayana Press pilot introduction activities build on the Ministry of Health’s commitment to expand community-based delivery of injectable contraceptives. The first Sayana Press introduction launched in Burkina Faso in July 2014. As of December 2015, more than 310,000 doses of Sayana Press have been administered to women by health workers across the four pilot countries. Sayana Press has been introduced in at least three additional countries. In order to track the progress of Sayana Press introduction in the four pilot countries, PATH is working with ministries of health and other partners to collect and report monitoring data. These data and early programmatic experiences with Sayana Press have revealed key lessons learned. For example, initial analysis of monitoring data suggests that introduction strategies that prioritize more peripheral delivery channels—remote locations, community health workers—reach a higher percentage of new users of family planning than facility-based delivery. PATH/Patrick McKern  QUICK FACTS: THE PRODUCT   Sayana Press is an all-in-one, three-month, progestin-only injectable contraceptive product prefilled in the Uniject™ injection system.  It is a lower-dose formulation and presentation of Depo-Provera® that contains 104 mg per 0.65 mL dose of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), manufactured by Pfizer Inc.  Sayana Press is administered via subcutaneous injection.  Sayana Press is approved by drug regulatory agencies in the European Union and in more than 25 countries around the world. The formulation of DMPA used in Sayana Press is also approved in the United States.  In 2015, the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency authorized Sayana Press for self-injection in that country. The World Health Organization also recommends self-administration of Sayana Press in specific circumstances.  In November 2014, a public-private collaboration made Sayana Press available for US$1 per dose to qualified purchasers in the world’s 69 poorest countries.  Sayana, Sayana Press, and Depo-Provera are registered trademarks of Pfizer Inc. Uniject is a trademark of BD. S A Y A N A P R E S S P R O J E C T Sayana® Press Clinical Brief BACKGROUND Sayana® Press is a new formulation and presentation of the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera®, manufactured and patented by Pfizer Inc. Administered through subcutaneous injection, Sayana Press contains 30 percent less depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) than the intramuscular presentation of Depo-Provera (generic: DMPA IM). Studies have found that the contraceptive efficacy and safety profile of Sayana Press are equivalent to those of DMPA IM. Sayana Press is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women of childbearing potential. Sayana Press is presented in the Uniject™ injection system, an autodisable injection device, prefilled with 104 mg/0.65 mL* medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, the active ingredient, a synthetic form of the natural hormone progesterone) sterile aqueous suspension.1,2 � In addition to providing three months of effective contraception, Sayana Press shares other characteristics of DMPA IM, including:  Rapid onset of effect—no backup contraceptive method is required during the first cycle of use.  High efficacy—it is not compromised by body mass index (BMI).  Convenient administration—it is easy to use.  Discreet administration—women can use it without telling their partners or families.  Safety—it can be used by women for whom contraceptive use of estrogen is inappropriate or contraindicated.3 HOW IT WORKS When Sayana Press is administered to a woman every three months, it inhibits the secretion of gonadotropins, preventing follicular maturation and ovulation and causing endometrial thinning. Because MPA is absorbed more slowly when administered subcutaneously, the 30 percent lower dose in Sayana Press allows for a lower peak MPA concentration and above-minimum serum MPA levels, compared with DMPA IM, for suppressed ovulation over a three-month period.4 *Depo-Provera (DMPA IM) contains 150 mg/mL depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. The dose is 1 mL. EFFICACY Studies have demonstrated that the efficacy, safety, and immediacy of contraceptive effect of Sayana Press are equivalent to DMPA IM. Clinical studies indicate that the product effectively suppresses ovulation for at least 13 weeks regardless of race, ethnicity, or BMI:  In a randomized, evaluator-blinded study comparing efficacy, safety, and acceptability of subcutaneous DMPA with DMPA IM over two years with an optional third year among 225 women in Brazil, Canada, and the United States, subcutaneous DMPA was well tolerated and provided comparable contraceptive efficacy and bone mineral density outcomes to those of DMPA IM.3  No pregnancies were reported in two large, open-label, Phase 3 studies that assessed one-year contraceptive efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction for subcutaneous DMPA.2 The studies—one in North and South America and the other in Europe and Asia—included 16,023 women-cycles of exposure to subcutaneous DMPA. Many of the women were overweight or obese.  In a randomized, prospective, evaluator-blinded, single- center trial conducted in Los Angeles, California, with 20 African American and 38 Caucasian women, subcutaneous DMPA demonstrated the same contraceptive efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics over 12 months as DMPA IM, regardless of women’s race and BMI.5  In a single-center, single-dose, open-label subcutaneous DMPA trial conducted in Singapore with 24 Asian women of five ethnic groups, ovulation suppression was maintained for at least 91 days regardless of ethnicity or injection site. The pharmacokinetic parameters for MPA in these Asian women were similar to those previously reported in Caucasian women.6  The combined results of the Singapore and Los Angeles trials show no difference in suppression of ovulation with subcutaneous DMPA regardless of ethnicity or injection site.1 ADMINISTRATION AND DOSAGE Sayana Press is administered once every three months (12 to 14 weeks). It is labeled for subcutaneous injection into the anterior thigh or abdomen, and recent research demonstrates that it is also effective when injected in the back of the upper Sayana, Sayana Press, and Depo‐Provera are registered trademarks of Pfizer Inc. Uniject is a trademark of BD. S A Y A N A P R E S S P R O J E C T Sayana® Press Self-injection Research In lower-income regions of the world, 225 million women want to avoid pregnancy but are not using contraception. Voluntary access to a range of safe and effective methods would help meet their needs. PATH is working closely with the governments of Senegal and Uganda to conduct research on a potential new family planning option: self-injection of Sayana® Press. At the end of 2015, early results from the first study in Uganda are promising: most women can competently self- inject after they are trained to do so. ABOUT SAYANA PRESS PATH’s self-injection research complements its current work with the Ministries of Health and other partners in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda to introduce Sayana Press through existing service delivery channels. For more information on Sayana Press and PATH’s pilot introduction work, visit: http://sites.path.org/rh/?p=292. Sayana Press is a lower-dose presentation of the three- month injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera® in the Uniject™ injection system—a prefilled autodisable device originally developed by PATH. Sayana Press contains depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and is administered via subcutaneous injection. Sayana Press is small and easy to transport and administer. Sayana Press is approved by drug regulatory authorities in the European Union and more than 25 countries worldwide. The formulation of DMPA used in Sayana Press is also approved in the United States. In 2015, the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency authorized Sayana Press for self- injection in that country. The World Health Organization also recommends self-administration of Sayana Press “in contexts where mechanisms to provide the woman with appropriate information and training exist, referral linkages to a healthcare provider are strong, and where monitoring and follow-up can be ensured.”1 POTENTIAL FOR SELF-INJECTION OF SAYANA PRESS Self-injection of Sayana Press could help overcome access barriers and increase women’s ability to manage their health. PATH and partners in Senegal and Uganda will build on the ongoing introductions to explore feasibility and cost- effectiveness of self-injection through research. Studies in higher-income settings, including the United States, indicate that self-injection of Sayana Press or similar products is both feasible and acceptable. Women and health workers in Ethiopia2 and Uganda3 have expressed strong interest in potential self-injection of Sayana Press. Findings from Pfizer Inc.’s original clinical trials of Sayana® (subcutaneous DMPA in a prefilled syringe) and self- injection research in Florida, New York, and Scotland offer promising results.4,5,6,7 There were no pregnancies among women practicing self-injection in these studies, and nearly all reported it to be convenient and easy. PATH/Will Boase There are barriers to contraceptive use. Those include cost of travel, possibility of not finding health workers, long waiting times, stockouts; and if women can self ‐inject, all of these barriers would be overcome. – Ministry of Health representative, Uganda S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 7 approximately two dozen countries worldwide. The formulation of DMPA used in Sayana Press is also approved in the United States. An updated product package insert indicating Sayana Press for self-injection was officially approved in 2015 by the United Kingdom’s lead stringent regulatory authority, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This provides a basis for updated product registrations indicating self-injection in other countries, which are currently being pursued by Pfizer (see Section 5: Registration) (Pfizer’s Sayana® Press becomes first injectable contraceptive in the United Kingdom available for administration by self-injection [press release]. Available at www.pfizer.com/news/ press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer_s_ sayana_press_becomes_first_injectable_ contraceptive_in_the_united_kingdom_ voluminous than the equivalent DMPA-IM presentation of vial and syringe. PATH has created several fact sheets as resources for donors, partners, and countries interested in learning more about Sayana Press introduction and research; these are available at sites.path.org/rh/?p=292#factsheets: • Sayana Press: Product and Project Summary • Sayana Press Clinical Brief • Sayana Press Self-Injection Research • Frequently Asked Questions About Sayana Press • Monitoring Sayana Press Pilot Introduction Sayana Press is approved by drug regulatory authorities in the European Union and PA TH /P at ric k M cK er n Indicated for self-injection Easy-to-use “all-in-one” presentation Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is the active ingredient 104 mg of DMPA per 0.65 mL dose (DMPA-IM contains 150 mg of DMPA per 1 mL dose) Stable at room temperature (15°C/59°F—30°C/86°F) Shelf life: 3 years 62 percent less voluminous than DMPA vial packed with syringe NEEDLE 1 cm needle (DMPA-IM is 1.6 cm needle) Injection site: thigh or abdomen NEEDLE SHIELD (must be pressed flush with port to “activate” the device) RESERVOIR PORT S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 8 available_for_administration_by_self_ injection). Niger approved the updated insert in 2016, establishing the regulatory foundation for future shifts in policy and practice. RESULTS FROM PILOT INTRODUCTIONS The pilot period for Sayana Press introductions ranged from mid-2014 to mid-2016 in each country. By early 2016, stakeholders in all four countries decided to scale up Sayana Press. Monitoring data collected and reviewed throughout the pilot introductions—as well as positive feedback on the product from implementers, providers, and clients— informed these decisions. The results of the pilots are crosscutting and robust, offering significant insights regarding the added value of this contraceptive option. For example, across the four countries: • Thousands of providers trained. More than 7,500 facility- and community-based family planning providers were trained to administer Sayana Press, including nearly 600 providers who serve as trainers, master trainers, or supervisors. • Half a million doses administered. Nearly half a million doses of Sayana Press were administered by providers (see map). The total number of doses of Sayana Press that were administered increased steadily during the pilot. • Thousands of new users reached. More than 120,000 women using modern family planning for the first time (“new users”) chose to use Sayana Press, indicating the product may help reduce unmet need and increase contraceptive prevalence (see bar graph). • Sayana Press reached young women. Approximately 45 percent of doses administered across Niger, Senegal, and Uganda were to women younger than age 25 years (age data not available for Burkina Faso). • Monitoring data provided real-time insights. Analysis of the monitoring data informed many of the lessons and program implications presented through this guide. Final project monitoring results are summarized in a brief (Monitoring Sayana® Press Pilot Introduction. Available at www. path.org/publications/detail.php?i=2551). Highlights include: • Results are linked to the introduction strategy. To reach maximum new users, a country may prioritize community-level delivery or offer injectables in areas where they were previously unavailable. To reach maximum volumes, a country might introduce Sayana Press at all levels of the Total number of Sayana Press doses administered, by country (2014–2016) Senegal 120,861 Burkina Faso 194,965 Uganda 130,673 Niger 43,801 S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 1 9 Proportion of Sayana Press doses administered to new users, by country (2014–2016) 0 10 20 30 40 50 Senegal Burkina Faso Uganda Niger n=9,027 (sentinel sites) n=194,965 n=130,673 n=43,801 24% 25% 29% 42% health system and train providers rapidly using a cascade approach. • Opportunities for task-sharing. Sayana Press offers opportunities to shift injectable administration to the community level, as community health workers administered higher proportions relative to DMPA-IM when both were available. • Switching was not widespread. Cumulative proportions of doses administered to women switching from DMPA-IM to Sayana Press were not higher than 16 percent, allaying early concerns about wholesale replacement of DMPA-IM. USING PRODUCT INTRODUCTION TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH SYSTEMS Because of its ease of injection and delivery, Sayana Press can catalyze service delivery innovation by expanding access to family planning in nonclinic settings. In other words, countries can make injectable contraceptives available where they have never been available before. The product’s ease of use may prompt decision-makers to support and establish policies for task-sharing contraceptive service delivery. Task-sharing involves a team-based approach to delivering contraceptives by community-based workers and volunteers, in addition to health care professionals based at fixed facilities. PA TH /W ill B oa se Annet, a village health worker, decided to be the first woman in Uganda to receive Sayana Press while participating in a training session on family planning. She wished she had learned about contraception earlier in her own life. She says, “I decided to see it for myself. Now I talk to my clients from experience and counsel them about their options.” S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 0 Introducing a new method like Sayana Press can also prompt programs to review and improve their family planning provider training and supervision, commodity distribution, and health information systems. For example, training health workers on a new method can provide an opportunity to refresh or upgrade their overall family planning skills. Logisticians and supply chain managers benefit from refresher skills training that introduction of a new method brings. Finally, working with regional or district teams to review and improve data monitoring systems and quality of data collection contributes to reinforcing their capacity and strengthening the health system overall. SELF-INJECTION AS AN EMERGING PRACTICE Self-injection of Sayana Press is expected to roll out in the future as the practice receives regulatory approval in more countries and as evidence of feasibility, acceptability, and impact accumulates. Self-injection could help overcome access barriers and increase women’s ability to manage their reproductive health. For example, women who self-inject would have timely access to injectables in places where community-based services are sporadic or unreliable. Studies to date suggest that self- injection of Sayana Press or similar products (e.g., DMPA-SC in a prefilled syringe) is both feasible and acceptable for many women. Together with partners, MOHs and partners in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda are conducting or planning research on self-injection to learn how to support women in these settings to self-inject safely and effectively. Results to date from PATH’s self-injection operational feasibility studies in Uganda and Senegal indicate that most women can independently self-inject at three months after a single one-on-one training session (A prospective cohort study of the feasibility and acceptability of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate administered subcutaneously through self-injection. Available at www.contraceptionjournal.org/ article/S0010-7824(16)30459-0/pdf). In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a new technical document that recommends self-injection in specific circumstances in contexts where women have information, training, and support (Health Worker Roles in Providing Safe Abortion Care and Post-Abortion Contraception. Available at http://apps.who.int/ iris/bitstream/10665/181041/1/9789241549264_eng. pdf?ua=1&ua=1). “Sayana Press is easy, and it can be used in private. It’s simple to handle, does not take time, and there is no need to go to the hospital. I like that I can use it myself more privately.” – Sayana Press client in Uganda, age 19 “The current research on self-injection builds a case for offering women this option in the future. For example, women in the current study live several kilometers from the nearest health hut or health post, but many have asked the nurses about the possibility of continuing Sayana Press self-injection beyond the study, to save time and prevent having to travel to the clinic, which is not easy for them. . . . This shows the tangible impact that the implementation of a self-injection policy could have.” – Marguerite Ndour, PATH Sayana Press Coordinator in Senegal S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 1 1980s 1990s 2003 2008 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Milestones: A Short History of Sayana Press 1980s: PATH develops Uniject injection system, originally known as SafeTject. 2003: Pharmacia merges with Pfizer Inc. and completes clinical research estab- lishing the safety and ecacy of the subcutaneous formulation of Depo-Provera in a prefilled glass syringe. 2011: Sayana Press is registered by the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. 2013: PATH and FHI360 conclude acceptability studies in Uganda, Senegal, and Ethiopia. 2014: A public-private partnership announced by Pfizer Inc. makes Sayana Press available for 1 USD per dose to qualified purchasers. 1990s: PATH and Horizon Medical license Uniject to Becton Dickinson. PATH and the US Agency for International Development begin working with Pharmacia & Upjohn as well as Becton Dickinson to deliver Depo-Provera in Uniject. 2008: PATH begins planning for introduction of depo-subQ provera 104 in Uniject (brand name Sayana Press) with funding from major donors. 2012: The London Summit on Family Planning launches the Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) initiative to make contraceptives available to an additional 120 million women in the world’s poorest countries by 2020. Public and private partners commit to o—er Sayana Press to women in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia between 2013 and 2016. 2014: The Burkina Faso Ministry of Health, PATH, United Nations Population Fund, and partners launch the first pilot introduction of Sayana Press, immediately followed by introductions in Niger, Uganda, and Senegal. 2015: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency authorizes self-injection of Sayana Press in the United Kingdom. FHI360 launches self-injection study in Malawi. 2016 2016: The Uganda Ministry of Health establishes feasibility of self-injection for the first time in an African country based on favorable results from the first successful PATH-led self-injection studies in sub-Saharan Africa. 2015-2016: PATH conducts a self-injection operational feasibility study in Senegal, self-injection continuation and cost-e—ectiveness studies in Senegal and Uganda, an adolescent and provider acceptability study in Uganda, and provider-delivery- continuation and cost-e—ectiveness studies in Burkina Faso and Uganda. 2016: Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda proceed to scale up use of Sayana Press nationally. Uganda initiates the first pilot of self-injection in a routine delivery channel. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 2 RESOURCES Idea to Impact: A Guide to Introduction and Scale. Available at https:// usaid.gov/cii/guide-introduction-and-scale. Idea to Impact is a practical reference for global health practitioners working to introduce or scale up medical devices, diagnostics, or other consumer products. The guide proposes a four-stage model and uses case studies to highlight lessons and factors for consideration. It includes a Practitioner’s Workbook and Toolkit. Sayana Press introduction and research: Expanding access and options web page. Available at sites.path.org/rh/?p=292. Sayana Press background resources and references web page. Available at sites.path. org/rh/recent-reproductive-health-projects/sayanapress/sayanapress- resources/. These two web pages are replete with dozens of practical resources about Sayana Press, including fact sheets, newsletters, blog posts, and research publications. PATH’s Framework for Product Introduction. Available at www.path. org/publications/files/TS_product_intro_framework.pdf. This four-page publication presents a simple but powerful phased approach to advancing public health products from concept to widespread use and summarizes key lessons for maximizing impact in product development, introduction, and integration. 2 3 COORDINATION AND ENGAGEMENT ENSURE PROGRESS Product introduction is a complex process that involves many activities that are happening at the same time and that are being led by many different individuals and groups. Identifying key stakeholders and keeping them engaged throughout introduction ensured consistent progress and helped achieve the transition toward national scale in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda less than two years later. Stakeholders constituted a diverse array of individuals and groups in each country setting, ranging from ministry of health (MOH) officials to local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups, from bilateral donors to health workers. Stakeholder engagement and coordination 3 PA TH /D eo gr at ia s A ga ba Engaging the MOH early in the introduction planning process was essential because public-sector delivery of health services is predominant in all of the pilot countries. In all four countries, the MOH establishes the national strategy for family planning and leads NGOs in implementing programs that support that strategy. PATH’s MOH engagement approaches through the product introduction included: • Briefing the MOH and partners on Sayana Press, including evidence and information about the product and the unique opportunity it offers for expanding contraceptive access (see Section 2 Background). For example, country partners were very keen to understand how The introduction of Sayana® Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject™) promises to expand women’s access to family planning options by increasing opportunities for lower-level health workers and even clients themselves to administer injectable contraceptives. Insights from the first introductions can help inform new country experiences and transitions, whether small pilots or scaled delivery. This section discusses results and lessons learned during introduction pilots in four countries and provides recommendations to guide future efforts by ministries of health and implementing partners related to stakeholder engagement and coordination. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 4 reached consensus, and leveraged other family planning initiatives. They also helped track other major health activities and the capacity of implementers (e.g., regional health teams and providers, NGOs) to implement activities on time. Over the course of the introduction, the coordinators achieved the following in each country: • Shepherding the product introduction plans through the review and approval processes. • Tracking Sayana Press product registration, identifying obstacles, and helping to ensure key questions were answered. • Working with local experts to complete a quantification exercise for the first Sayana Press orders that took account of relevant evidence and information about the product. • Integrating Sayana Press into the national family planning training curricula and ensuring high-quality training and supervision of health workers in Sayana Press administration and service delivery, enabling them to serve as experts on the product. • Collecting monitoring data and entering it in a central global database that enabled comparative analysis and more timely review than most national systems. • Coordinating the work of partners involved in Sayana Press introduction and obtaining technical guidance and approvals from the MOH during implementation. • Overseeing any evaluation and research studies and ensuring they were aligned with overall introduction efforts. • Facilitating discussions on the timing of, and funding sources for, moving the product to scale. INTRODUCTION TIP A national Sayana Press coordinator can keep introduction moving forward at all phases, from tracking registration to assisting with quantification, from ensuring high-quality training to overseeing data collection for monitoring or research. the new product is different from DMPA-IM (generic name for the intramuscular form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate) and how the two options should be positioned in the context of their family planning program. In some cases, these discussions also helped identify information gaps that needed to be filled by new monitoring and evaluation data or research studies. For example, would the product appeal to new family planning users, which would help to increase contraceptive prevalence and reduce unmet need in their countries? • Assessing government interest in introducing a new contraceptive method and understanding family planning goals and priorities that would help to shape the product introduction strategy. • Identifying key champions and supporters within the MOH to provide leadership in ensuring Sayana Press was integrated into strategy and planning documents and technical partners’ meetings, and to support introduction technically and administratively. The approach of private-sector businesses and social marketing agencies may be less dependent on obtaining governmental buy-in because these groups operate in ways that are often discrete from and complementary to public- sector services. While introductions of Sayana Press in the private sector may require less direct involvement with the government, private- sector and social-marketing agencies can likely benefit from exchange of information with the MOH and coordination with other NGOs. THE VALUE OF CENTRALIZED, COUNTRY-LEVEL COORDINATION FOR MOVING FORWARD During the pilot introductions of Sayana Press, the importance of country-level coordination of activities among stakeholders became keenly apparent. PATH hired a national coordinator in each country, and the role quickly became indispensable. In all four pilot countries, the coordinators ensured that partners moved in the same direction, S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 5 CASE STUDY PA TH /S iri W oo d PATH’s role coordinating work to benefit all pilot countries PATH staff filled leadership and technical roles at a global level and across all four pilot introduction countries. This included key work related to funding, procurement, product introduction, monitoring, and research. Globally, leading up to and during the early phase of introduction, PATH regularly convened a consortium of funders and procurers of Sayana Press. The meetings helped to ensure alignment across organizations, track procurement and funding streams, update consumption estimates based on country introduction plans, and hone the research agenda. They also helped to define a critical path to country launches to coincide with country-level product registrations, ordering, and Pfizer’s production schedule. In addition, PATH created a common monitoring system for analyzing data spanning all four countries. PATH’s coordination of efforts across countries resulted in a number of efficiencies and benefits. For example: • Donor consortium members obtained standardized monitoring data across the pilot countries and tracked introduction progress. • Country governments received common messaging about the objectives of the project, accurate clinical information about the product, and Sayana Press training materials that could be adapted to their unique contexts. • The four pilot countries learned from each other and stayed apprised of introduction progress through PATH’s regular updates as well as periodic midterm cross-country gatherings. • PATH translated mounting interest in self-injection into a clear research agenda, initiated targeted studies to answer key questions, and publicly shared emerging evidence about the feasibility and acceptance of self-injection as it became available. PATH also implemented country-level, cross-country, and global information dissemination and sharing during the pilots. This included publishing newsletters and monitoring briefs, posting online training materials for adaptation by each country, disseminating technical information such as fact sheets and conference presentations, and publishing research results in peer-review journals. These communications activities have not only facilitated evidence-based decision-making by donors but also enabled participating countries and programs and the family planning field at large to learn from the initiative. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 6 In Burkina Faso, for example, the Sayana Press coordinator joined supervision visits for newly trained health workers and found that some providers mistakenly believed that Sayana Press would be available only for a very short time. As a result, they were reluctant to offer the method. The coordinator not only corrected their misunderstanding but also ensured that correct information was shared throughout the introduction regions. In Niger, the Sayana Press coordinator worked to improve data quality in a health system with very weak infrastructure for monitoring data collection. By the end of the pilot, the project had almost two years of rich data from Niger, demonstrating that Sayana Press could reach new family planning users in remote settings where injectable contraception had not been previously available. In Senegal, the Sayana Press coordinator realized during supportive supervision that a key contact point for women in clinics, family planning counselors, were not aware of Sayana Press. She sought permission from the MOH and then led training of these counselors in Senegal’s introduction regions, which in turn helped increase awareness and boost use of Sayana Press. Uganda’s Sayana Press coordinator was directly involved in training community health workers and following up to provide supportive supervision. Through her coordinator role, she was also able to share details of what she heard from community health workers and family planning clients with government leaders at the MOH, as well as global donors and implementers in other countries. For example, she shared that communities in Uganda loved the “all-in-one” presentation of Sayana Press and that women reported experiencing fewer side effects than they had when using DMPA- IM. These important real-life perspectives on the new product would not have been captured by monitoring systems or shared beyond these communities without established communication channels. In Burkina Faso and Niger, the Sayana Press coordinators were based at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and in Senegal and Uganda, they were employed by PATH. In the case of Burkina Faso, UNFPA placed a project point person at the MOH offices, who was supervised by and remained in constant contact with the UNFPA-based Sayana Press coordinator. This formula worked well, particularly in planning for meetings or for facilitating approvals for coordinated trips to the field for trainings, supervision visits, and collection of monitoring data. Proximity of the Sayana Press point person to key Division of Family Health staff helped the MOH assimilate and take ownership of the Sayana Press pilot. Designating an MOH point person or seconding the coordinator to sit at the MOH may be an effective approach that some countries can consider to ensure forward movement on Sayana Press introduction. INTRODUCTION TIP Designating an MOH point person or seconding the coordinator to sit at the MOH may be an effective approach that some countries can consider to ensure forward movement on Sayana Press introduction. “A clear, centralized coordination mechanism is ideal to avoid leadership conflicts between the government and all organizations involved. This can harmonize efforts and avoid the program being implemented as several discrete projects. Appointing both a central coordinator and a focal point for each partner agency is one way to create linkages between partners without risking disagreement among lead groups.” – Alain Kaboré, United Nations Population Fund Sayana Press Coordinator in Burkina Faso S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 7 meetings and quarterly Family Planning Working Group meetings convened by the MOH, and PATH also convened a monthly Sayana Press Partners Group meeting of NGO implementing partners. These groups all played a key role in scale-up decisions in late 2015 and early 2016. In addition to ongoing efforts to share information and build communication networks in each country, PATH organized several cross-country events focused on maximizing learning and exchange. After the first full year of implementation, PATH brought together key staff from the four pilot countries for a project review meeting in Dakar in June 2015. This allowed for sharing of information among key project staff about approaches and learnings to date and peer feedback on the activities conducted in each country. In September 2016, PATH worked with the Ouagadougou Partnership to organize a study tour to Uganda for key stakeholders in several countries interested in Sayana Press self- injection and community-based distribution (CBD) programs. Delegations from Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Senegal traveled to Uganda for one week to observe the self- injection research studies and CBD program, meet with Village Health Team members, and exchange information with government and NGO partner counterparts. Each country team developed an action plan related to self- injection and CBD. MAXIMIZING LEARNING AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE TO IDENTIFY NEW OPPORTUNITIES A component of PATH’s global coordination role was to maximize learning and information-sharing among partners such as UNFPA, the MOH, and implementing NGOs. PATH worked with country partners to maintain open lines of communication within and among the four pilot countries. Some of these efforts were ongoing, and others were short-term based on a specific need. For example, PATH helped connect social marketing agencies in Niger and Senegal with each other and with the product manufacturer to help address major questions about the process of overbranding Sayana Press with a local or national brand name for successful marketing. For coordination to be most effective during the introduction of a new contraceptive method, it is important to hold regular implementation meetings that include all parties. During the pilot introductions for Sayana Press, in some cases PATH leveraged pre-existing technical working groups, such as Senegal’s MOH-led Family Planning Technical Working Group. In other settings, this meant creating a pilot project steering committee, as in Niger. In some settings, both approaches were used. For example, in Uganda, PATH represented Sayana Press work in the existing monthly Maternal and Child Health Cluster “At the one-year project review meeting in Dakar, I gained a fuller understanding of how the pilots in West Africa differed from my own country. There were some similarities in our approach with the Niger pilot, as it was community-based, and the other countries were intrigued to hear about Uganda’s communication campaign, monitoring approach, and way of interacting with the MOH, given that it is not the same as how things are done in the francophone settings. We each returned to our countries with new ideas to try out, such as the Husbands’ Schools in Niger and the regional data validation workshops in Burkina Faso.” – Fiona Walugembe, PATH Sayana Press Coordinator in Uganda S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 8 CLEARLY DEFINING PARTNER ROLES TO IMPROVE COORDINATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PATH conducted initial landscape assessments to identify the best partners for various product introduction areas—for example, product distribution, training, and communication or demand generation—based on each institution’s strengths. In some cases, as budget allowed, PATH subcontracted specific scopes of work to partner agencies with strong experience in a given technical area or presence in a particular geographic area (see table). Subcontracting helped to ensure accountability because organizations were contractually obligated to share relevant data and meet deliverables to receive payments. PATH also collaborated with a number of introduction partners more informally. In most of those informal partnerships, communication and data-sharing worked well. That said, busy implementers are universally more likely to prioritize contractual obligations than informal ones. And in “Creating a favorable environment for self-injection is one of the five priority actions identified by Senegal’s Family Planning Division to meet 2018 national goals. The Uganda study tour helped clarify how to make this vision a reality. The concept was presented to the Minister of Health following the tour, and was met with approval. The MOH now plans to develop self-injection programming over the next year.” – Marguerite Ndour, PATH Sayana Press Coordinator in Senegal Examples of work subcontracted by PATH workstream agency subcontracted main role Product distribution in Uganda UHMG Because of constraints at the national medical stores, PATH contracted with UHMG to distribute Sayana Press due to its specialized work in receiving, storing, and distributing contraceptive supplies (see Section 9: Product distribution for case study on UHMG). Training in Senegal ChildFund IntraHealth International ChildFund trained community health agents working at health huts, and IntraHealth International trained facility-level health providers in the pilot intervention areas. Demand-generation communication in Uganda CDFU CDFU developed and implemented a behavior change communications strategy in support of the work of VHTs in mostly rural communities in 10 target districts over two years. CDFU’s campaign created awareness and promoted uptake of family planning methods, including Sayana Press, among communities in the participating districts through a wide range of media and interpersonal approaches (see Section 8: Generating demand for case study on CDFU). Note: CDFU, Communication for Development Foundation Uganda; UHMG, Uganda Health Marketing Group. ; VHT, Village Health Team S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 2 9 almost all cases, there was some turnover among staff at implementing agencies for the pilot introduction. In cases where PATH had subagreements in place, the terms of collaboration were clearly laid out in a contract and not tied to the relationship with one individual. However, managing subcontracts demands significant administrative, financial, and technical oversight to ensure the quality of work and respect of deadlines. PA TH /G ab e Bi en cz yc ki S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 0 • Build relationships with ministry of health counterparts. Building and nurturing active, strong, two-way relationships with MOH counterparts will help ensure a smooth transition toward scale-up. • Designate an individual or agency responsible for coordinating stakeholders and their activities. A well-defined lead person or agency can keep activities moving forward, assist in sharing of information and resources, and serve as a clear point for communications among all partners, including the MOH and donors. • Define partners’ roles and mechanisms for coordinating introduction in a written plan. Given the complexity of new product introduction, there is a great risk that planning and implementation will be stalled in the absence of a clear plan for engagement and coordination among the MOH and civil society organizations. • Widely share experience and results from product introduction. Subnational, national, regional, and international stakeholders will all benefit from learnings on Sayana Press introduction and may identify exciting new opportunities for the product to increase women’s contraceptive access. RECOMMENDATIONS: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND COORDINATION page 1Expanding Access How to use this document This handout provides a high-level overview of DMPA-SC (the Sayana® Press product), including its benefits, its potential for empowering women, and where it is available. The primary audience is decision- makers. Advocates are encouraged to pair this handout with other materials in this package, especially if a decision-maker is not familiar with DMPA-SC and Sayana Press. ? Benefitting users, providers, and health systems ● 99 percent effective at preventing unintended pregnancy when given correctly and on time every three months. ● Discreet contraception for women and adolescent girls. ● Prefilled and ready to inject. ● Easy to use. ● Small and light. ● Simple to inject due to short needle. ● Stable at room temperature (15°C to 30°C). ● Three-year shelf life. ● Simplified logistics—no need to match vial with syringe and needle. ● Easy to deliver through clinics, community-based distribution, pharmacies, and drug shops. SPACE Expanding access and options with DMPA-SC, a new type of injectable contraception A new type of injectable contraception is transforming the way women and adolescent girls access and use family planning. Subcutaneous (SC) depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)—or DMPA-SC—is an innovative product that makes injections simpler. Because DMPA-SC is easy to use, any trained person can administer it, including community health workers, pharmacists, and even women themselves. As governments work to ensure a wide variety of contraceptives is available in their country, they should consider how offering DMPA-SC can address unmet need and increase access through a range of delivery channels: The term “DMPA-SC”: What you need to know DMPA-SC is a general term used to describe an injectable contraceptive that is administered under the skin. Traditional DMPA is injected into a muscle, which generally requires more training and skill. Sayana® Press , manufactured by Pfizer Inc., is the brand name of the DMPA-SC product available today in most countries. The “all-in-one” product combines the contraceptive drug and needle into a single device. Other versions of DMPA-SC products may become available in the future. The information in this overview is specific to Sayana Press. ! PA TH /W ill B oa se RESOURCES PATH initial country assessments for DMPA-SC. Available at www. path.org/publications/detail.php?i=1952. These executive summaries reveal findings and recommendations from initial assessments conducted in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, and Senegal. PATH evaluated these settings in 2009 in terms of service delivery, supply systems, and stakeholder perspectives with respect to the feasibility and appropriateness of introducing DMPA-SC in Uniject. Advocacy materials on Sayana Press. Available by April 2017 at www.rhsupplies.org. This set of advocacy materials provides tools for researchers and program implementers working to increase access to injectable contraception and specifically use of DMPA-SC. 3 1 Planning the country introduction strategy 4 INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROVIDES A ROAD MAP Introduction of Sayana Press can increase contraceptive access for women and adolescent girls. Traditionally, injectable contraception has been most widely available in clinics. Because administration of Sayana Press requires minimal training, it is especially suitable for use in more remote settings and community-based distribution (CBD). At the beginning of PATH’s coordinated pilot introduction efforts in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda, each country developed a Sayana Press introduction plan to harness this product’s potential. These plans served as road maps, providing an overview of each country’s family planning goals and a corresponding approach to integrating the product in their program. The introduction plans generally included: • Overview of the country’s family planning landscape and goals. • Country need or rationale for Sayana Press introduction. • Description of introduction strategy, including: » Service delivery channels (e.g., public or private sector, clinics, communities, or pharmacies). » Geographic area for introduction. » Partners and their roles. PA TH /W ill B oa se The introduction of Sayana® Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject™) promises to expand women’s access to family planning options by increasing opportunities for lower-level health workers and even clients themselves to administer injectable contraceptives. Insights from the first introductions can help inform new country experiences and transitions, whether small pilots or scaled delivery. This section discusses results and lessons learned during introduction pilots in four countries and provides recommendations to guide future efforts by ministries of health and implementing partners related to planning the country introduction strategy. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H S a y a n a P r e s s i s a r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e m a r k o f P f i z e r I n c . U n i j e c t i s a t r a d e m a r k o f B D . S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 2 » Distribution plans. » Training plan: number of providers to be trained, approach, timeline. » Approach to demand generation and communications. » Monitoring plan: indicators, reporting system. • Product registration status and procurement plans. • Description of any research or evaluation activities. • Plans for scaling up. Developing the Sayana Press introduction plans with national partners and validating the plans with a broader set of national family planning stakeholders helped generate buy-in and support, as well as a common vision. Each country’s Sayana Press coordinator was responsible for shepherding the plan to completion. National family planning partners reviewed the introduction plans in a workshop or meeting forum, and the national ministry PA TH /W ill B oa se of health (MOH) validated the plans before introduction got under way. The planning phase is an opportunity to carefully think through a monitoring and evaluation approach for pilot introduction. The approach should consider what results are expected or hoped for, and what systems and resources are available to measure those results. During the pilot introductions, all countries elected to initiate use of Sayana Press in limited geographic areas, moving to scale after about a year of successful implementation. Collecting and reviewing monitoring data were essential to scale-up decisions in the pilot countries. In addition, the data can inform programmatic improvements even when scale-up is already assured (see Section 10: Monitoring and evaluation). DESIGNING THE INTRODUCTION STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE DESIRED RESULTS During the pilot phase, how and where each country chose to introduce Sayana Press depended on the country’s family planning program goals. All countries aimed to increase their contraceptive prevalence rate and reduce unmet need for contraception, but each strategy was also driven by more particular priorities (e.g., expanding coverage or reaching more new family planning users). Analysis INTRODUCTION TIP The key components of a Sayana Press introduction plan are also applicable to a scale- up plan. Some introduction plans may include budget provisions or sources of financing. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 3 Respective roles of Sayana Press and DMPA-IM When Sayana Press was first presented as an option to the pilot countries prior to 2013, its price per dose was higher than that of DMPA-IM (generic name for the intramuscular form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate). International donor agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development, United Nations Population Fund, and the World Bank, which often procure contraceptives on behalf of country governments, were wary of replacing DMPA-IM with a more costly presentation. Country governments were similarly hesitant to invest in a more expensive product. In November 2014, a public-private partnership made Sayana Press available for 1.00 USD per dose to qualified purchasers; DMPA-IM is generally available for about 0.70–0.80 USD per dose. This significantly reduced donors’ and countries’ concerns about pricing and helped pave the way for decisions to scale up the product in the pilot countries. Given the near price comparability, concerns about replacement were largely alleviated during the past two years. Sayana Press was not intended to replace DMPA-IM in any pilot setting. Most countries expressed interest in enlarging their family planning method mix and envisioned Sayana Press attracting new clients through nonclinic channels, including outreach and community-based distribution, while satisfied DMPA-IM clients would continue with this method. Some degree of switching was expected, but it was impossible to predict how much. Monitoring data reveal that, cumulatively, the share of doses administered to women switching from DMPA-IM to Sayana Press ranged from 7 percent in Burkina Faso to 16 percent in Uganda. In some instances, provider bias for one product or the other may have influenced Sayana Press uptake. For example, early on in introduction, many providers across country settings misunderstood that Sayana Press was to replace DMPA-IM, which resulted in higher proportions of doses administered to women switching from DMPA-IM (ranging from 16 percent in Burkina Faso to 51 percent in Senegal). This was quickly addressed during supervision, and switching declined sharply at first then continued to gradually decline over time. In contrast, early on at some sites in Burkina Faso, providers were hesitant to initiate women on Sayana Press because they had surmised that “pilot project” meant a short-term or temporary offer of the method. Supervisors had to remind these providers that Sayana Press would continue to be available long-term because the term “pilot” referred to the limited geographic area for initial introduction. The approach to introduction depends on each country’s goals, which may include co-delivery of both injectable presentations, eventual replacement of DMPA-IM, or targeted offering of Sayana Press in specific channels. If volumes of Sayana Press administered continue to increase in the coming years across geographies, and if and when self-injection becomes more widely available, conversations among international family planning donors, ministries of health, implementing agencies, and the product manufacturer about these two products will undoubtedly continue and evolve. PA TH /P at ric k M cK er n S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 4 of pilot introduction monitoring data from Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda helps to illustrate how different Sayana Press introduction strategies may achieve varied family planning outcomes, as outlined below. Introducing Sayana Press at many delivery points and higher levels of the health system achieves large volumes. • Approach: Senegal and Burkina Faso introduced Sayana Press through delivery points at all levels of the health system, alongside DMPA-IM. They also implemented the pilots in four regions with the greatest population and highest rates of intention to use family planning, based on data from national Demographic and Health Surveys. • Results: Volumes of Sayana Press distributed and administered were high in both countries, because the product was available in every type of health facility—including clinics (see graph). Higher volumes of Sayana Press distributed can help inform global conversations about product supply and demand. Ideally, higher demand will result in more supply and more availability of the product for women—including those with an unmet need for family planning. Introducing Sayana Press in more peripheral channels reaches higher proportions of new family planning users. • Approach: Given Niger’s high fertility rate (7.6 percent) and low level of unmet need (16.0 percent) due to the desire for large families, the MOH wanted to reach and attract new users of family planning and expand geographic access for women living in remote or rural areas. They elected to introduce Sayana Press as the first offer Total cumulative number of Sayana Press doses administered by quarter, by country (2014–2016) 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 2016 Q22015 Q42015 Q22014 Q4 2016 Q22015 Q42015 Q22014 Q4 Niger UgandaSenegalBurkina Faso Niger UgandaSenegalBurkina Faso DMPA-IM Sayana Press 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Senegal n=805,515 Senegal n=30,659 Uganda n=174,012 All levels Community level 465 13,436 39,724 1,239 3,759 16,028 24,122 76,709 111,493 45,252 36,343 25,398 131,031 70,277 61,886 29,468 151,129 173,789 100,113 89,062 36,211 194,965 130,673 120,861 43,801 84% 16% 28% 72% 25% 75% 2,934 10,893 33% 33% 26% 27% 16% 21% 22% 25% 30% 24% 23% 24% 21% 36% 43% 43% 37% 32% 32% 64% 70% 46% 42% 38% 36% 38% 37% S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 5 of injectables only at the most peripheral facilities in two districts, and through CBD of socially marketed product at the village level in two districts. In other words, women in Niger who previously only had access to pills and condoms were provided with an entirely new contraceptive option. Given how new the injectable offer was at these outlets, Niger elected to pilot in only four districts, with the intention to move swiftly to national scale if the first year of the pilot was successful. • Results: Of the four countries, Niger reached the highest cumulative proportion of new users (44 percent of doses were administered to new users overall for the entire pilot period). From the beginning, demand among new users was clear: in the first full quarter of introduction in Niger (October through December 2014), the percentage of Sayana Press doses administered to new family planning users was an astounding 70 percent. The proportion of all doses administered to new users decreased and leveled off over time as more clients came back for reinjections (see graph). Introducing Sayana Press through community-based distribution will likely result in the product outpacing DMPA-IM in these channels (see graph on following page). • Approach: Planning for Sayana Press introduction in Senegal was concurrent with a successful pilot study of CBD of DMPA-IM. A full policy shift at the outset of Senegal’s introduction enabled community health workers (CHWs) called matrones to offer both Sayana Press and DMPA-IM. Uganda was the only pilot introduction country that already had a policy supporting CBD of DMPA-IM when Sayana Press introduction began. The Uganda MOH and implementing partners desired to expand task-sharing through community- based service provision, selecting 28 districts where Village Health Teams (VHTs) were functional but not offering Proportion of Sayana Press administered to new users by country, by quarter (2014–2016) 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 2016 Q22015 Q42015 Q22014 Q4 2016 Q22015 Q42015 Q22014 Q4 Niger UgandaSenegalBurkina Faso Niger UgandaSenegalBurkina Faso DMPA-IM Sayana Press 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Senegal n=805,515 Senegal n=30,659 Uganda n=174,012 All levels Community level 465 13,436 39,724 1,239 3,759 16,028 24,122 76,709 111,493 45,252 36,343 25,398 131,031 70,277 61,886 29,468 151,129 173,789 100,113 89,062 36,211 194,965 130,673 120,861 43,801 84% 16% 28% 72% 25% 75% 2,934 10,893 33% 33% 26% 27% 16% 21% 22% 25% 30% 24% 23% 24% 21% 36% 43% 43% 37% 32% 32% 64% 70% 46% 42% 38% 36% 38% 37% S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 6 injectables consistently. The pilot trained VHTs in family planning, including administration of both Sayana Press and DMPA-IM. • Results: When offered side-by-side at the community level in both countries, Sayana Press volumes far outpaced DMPA-IM volumes. CHWs and their clients may be more comfortable with Sayana Press due to its ease of use or may prefer subcutaneous injection over intramuscular injections. For example, in Senegal, the proportion of Sayana Press administered relative to DMPA-IM was 72 percent at rural community health huts compared to only 14 percent at upper-level facilities. Similarly, in Uganda, Sayana Press constituted 75 percent of injectables administered by VHTs where both methods were available. INTRODUCTION TIP Sayana Press seems to be highly preferred by community health workers and their clients, and may help advance task-shifting and task-sharing. Relative proportions of DMPA-IM and Sayana Press administered by country, by level—Senegal and Uganda (2014–2016) 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 2016 Q22015 Q42015 Q22014 Q4 2016 Q22015 Q42015 Q22014 Q4 Niger UgandaSenegalBurkina Faso Niger UgandaSenegalBurkina Faso DMPA-IM Sayana Press 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Senegal n=805,515 Senegal n=30,659 Uganda n=174,012 All levels Community level 465 13,436 39,724 1,239 3,759 16,028 24,122 76,709 111,493 45,252 36,343 25,398 131,031 70,277 61,886 29,468 151,129 173,789 100,113 89,062 36,211 194,965 130,673 120,861 43,801 84% 16% 28% 72% 25% 75% 2,934 10,893 33% 33% 26% 27% 16% 21% 22% 25% 30% 24% 23% 24% 21% 36% 43% 43% 37% 32% 32% 64% 70% 46% 42% 38% 36% 38% 37% Introducing Sayana Press may help reach more young women with contraception. • Approach: Uganda expressly aimed to reach young women and adolescent girls through the pilot introduction of Sayana Press, and it revised the national training curriculum and developed communication strategies accordingly. The training curriculum includes specific sessions designed to reduce resistance to provision of family planning to adolescents, and radio spots targeted to a younger audience were developed. • Results: In Uganda, monitoring data from the second quarter of 2015 showed that 41 percent of Sayana Press clients were under the age of 25 years. By way of comparison, the Demographic and Health Survey (2011) found that only 26 percent of injectable users were under the age of 25 years. Because the Demographic and Health Survey data on injectable users were collected prior to Sayana Press introduction, they represent DMPA-IM clients. Although the Demographic and Health Survey data are several years old, it is encouraging to see that a higher proportion of women under age 25 years accessed Sayana Press compared to the previously available DMPA-IM. This may indicate that Sayana Press is an attractive option for younger S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 7 women. It is not possible to conclude whether the product itself, specific training and communication approaches, the community-based delivery channel, or the demographics of the pilot areas may have driven these results. In Niger, the proportion of doses administered to women under 25 years was even higher (52 percent). DISTRIBUTION THROUGH THE PRIVATE SECTOR Sayana Press introduction in these first four countries primarily took place in the public sector, where most women access contraception (particularly injectable contraception). In each country, private, nonprofit implementers also introduced Sayana Press in a small number of outlets. In Burkina Faso, for example, PATH’s monitoring data from the first 18 months of pilot introduction reveal that while the relatively small-scale nongovernmental-organization (NGO) sector distribution represented only 6 percent of overall doses administered, it reached a higher proportion of new users (39 percent) compared with the public sector (25 percent). Additionally, fewer doses were administered to women switching from DMPA-IM and other methods in the private sector. This may be partly attributable to NGO delivery channels like mobile outreach, community distribution, youth centers, and pharmacies. Much remains to be learned from settings where Sayana Press is distributed through the private, commercial sector. In some of the pilot countries, private-sector implementers faced delays getting started because of procurement challenges and the need to obtain permission to overbrand the product for social marketing. Examples of private-sector introductions are outlined below: • Association Nigérienne de Marketing Social (ANIMAS-SUTURA). A local social marketing agency, ANIMAS-SUTURA, was contracted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to distribute an overbranded product called “SUTURA Press” at the community level through a network Marie Stopes complements public-sector introduction in Burkina Faso Marie Stopes Burkina Faso (MSBF) integrated Sayana Press into its package of family planning services at various service delivery points, including three clinics, five mobile teams, and one youth counseling center in the four pilot regions. MSBF trained 31 health providers as well as 32 social marketing agents who provide information and refer clients to MSBF’s service delivery points. In collaboration with health district management teams, MSBF conducted behavior change communications and media activities (such as radio talk shows and spots, and referral education) that reached an estimated 223,000 people. One unique activity was the engagement of women’s and men’s associations, such as hair dressers and taxi drivers, to serve as client referral networks. MSBF also trained 140 cotton- farming group leaders to refer family planning clients to MSBF’s service delivery points. During the project, MSBF administered more than 3,500 doses of Sayana Press, including approximately half of these to first-time users of modern contraception. PA TH /A nn a St ou t S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 8 of 100 trained community health agents in Madarounfa and Mayahi, two districts of Maradi Region that have distributed nearly 4,000 doses (9 percent of total doses administered in pilot introduction in Niger). In addition, in March 2015, the project trained 151 staff from private pharmacies and clinics in Niamey in promotion and sales (no distribution data available). • Agence pour le Développement du Marketing Social (ADEMAS) in Senegal. Promoting an overbranded product called “Securil Press,” the social marketing agency ADEMAS trained 164 pharmacists in the pilot regions to counsel clients about injectable contraception and sell the product. Clients needed to take the product to a different trained provider for the actual injection. More than 9,000 doses were sold to pharmacies through June 2016. • Marie Stopes Burkina Faso (MSBF). MSBF integrated Sayana Press into its package of family planning services at fixed and mobile clinics, trained health providers and social marketing agents, and led behavior change communications activities (see text box on page 37). • Marie Stopes Senegal (MSS). After overcoming significant challenges in product procurement, MSS trained staff and began offering Sayana Press through a clinic and a youth center in Dakar in May 2016. By June, MSS began offering the product through all their distribution channels nationwide except in one region; these distribution channels included mobile outreach teams, social marketing agents called “MS Ladies,” youth centers, and a social marketing franchise network of 55 affiliated private health centers. • National affiliates of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in Burkina Faso (Association Burkinabe pour le Bien-Être Familial, or ABBEF), Senegal (Association Sénégalaise pour le Bien-Être Familial, or ASBEF), and Uganda (Reproductive Health Uganda, or RHU). ABBEF introduced Sayana Press through 11 clinics, 3 mobile clinics, 2 youth counseling centers, and more than 600 community-based health distribution agents. In fact, the first four women in Africa to receive Sayana Press in a normal clinic delivery setting were clients at an ABBEF clinic in Burkina Faso in June 2014. In Senegal, ASBEF introduced Sayana Press nationwide in 8 clinics and through CBD programs in 17 cities and towns across the country. In Uganda, RHU integrated Sayana Press into one of its urban clinics in Gulu District. Two years later, RHU is integrating Sayana Press into its contraceptive offerings across the country. PA TH /W ill B oa se S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 3 9 Boucle du Mouhoun Cascades Centre Centre-Est Centre-Nord Centre-Ouest Centre-Sud Est Hauts-Bassins Nord Plateau- Central Sahel Sud-Ouest Public sector Marie Stopes International (MSI) Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-Être Familial (ABBEF) GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF PILOT Over 680 public-sector facilities across the 4 most populous regions and 23 districts participated in the pilot. Sayana Press was o†ered alongside DMPA-IM at all levels of the health system. Clinic and mobile outreach was o†ered by nongovernmental organization partners. INNOVATIVE DELIVERY Sayana Press pilot introduction represents the first time injectables are o†ered through outreach directly in communities. Outreach workers based at the most peripheral health centers—already active in routine vaccination campaigns—o†er Sayana Press during monthly community visits. SCALE-UP Decision to move to scale made in November 2015. National pool of 35 master trainers from 9 regions trained in May 2016, followed by simultaneous cascade training of providers across 9 additional regions and 47 districts by end June 2016. STATUS OF SELF-INJECTION Label change pending. No self-injection research currently under way. Interest in self-injection pilot emerging. PARTNERS Ministry of Health, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Marie Stopes Burkina Faso (MSBF), Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-Être Familial (ABBEF), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) BURKINA FASO PILOT INTRODUCTION BY THE NUMBERS: JUNE 2014–JUNE 2016 Number of providers trained in pilot 1,908 Doses administered during pilot 194,965 Proportion of doses administered to new users 25% BURKINA FASO EXPANDING INJECTABLE ACCESS IN: COUNTRY OVERVIEW • Contraceptive prevalence rate, modern methods, all women: 16% • Injectables as proportion of method mix, married women: 31% • Most popular method: implants (45%) Sources: Demographic and Health Surveys, Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA2020) country reports, PATH’s Monitoring Sayana Press Pilot Introduction: Final Pilot Project Results S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 0 Arlit Bilma Tchighozerine Di a Maïné- soroa N'Guigmi Dosso Gaya Loga Aguié Dakoro Guidan-Roumdji Madarounfa Mayahi Keita Birni N'Konni Bouza Illéla Abalak Madaoua Tahoua Tchin-Tabarade Filingué Kollo Ouallam Say Téra Gouré Magaria Matamey Miria Tanout NIamey Dogon-Doutchi Tillabéri Tes sao ua Birni N'Gaouré Agadez Di�a Dosso Maradi Tahoua Tillabéri Zinder Public sector Private sector GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF PILOT 211 public-sector community health huts in 2 districts (Téra and Magaria) of 2 regions (Tillabéry and Zinder). ANIMAS-SUTURA distributed socially marketed brand SUTRA Press through community-based distribution in 50 villages of 2 districts (Madarounfa and Mayahi) of Maradi Region and in pharmacies and private clinics around Niamey. INNOVATIVE DELIVERY Sayana Press pilot introduction represents the first o er of injectables in public-sector health huts, the most peripheral level of Niger’s health system. SCALE-UP Decision to move to scale was made in June 2015. Partners, including Pathfinder and EngenderHealth, trained health workers in an additional 661 health huts beyond the 211 huts involved in the pilot introduction, out of 2,500 total across the country. STATUS OF SELF-INJECTION Label change was approved to indicate self-injection in June 2016. The status of future introduction or research is unknown. PARTNERS Ministry of Health, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Association Nigérienne pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ANBEF), Association Nigérienne de Marketing Social (ANIMAS-SUTURA) NIGER PILOT INTRODUCTION BY THE NUMBERS: SEPTEMBER 2014–JUNE 2016 Number of providers trained in pilot 371 Doses administered during pilot 43,801 Proportion of doses administered to new users 42% Proportion of doses administered to users under 25 years of age 50% NIGER EXPANDING INJECTABLE ACCESS IN: COUNTRY OVERVIEW • Population: 17 million • Contraceptive prevalence rate, modern methods, all women: 11% • Injectables as proportion of method mix, contraceptive users, married women: 35% Sources: Demographic and Health Surveys, Performance Monitoring and Accountability2020 (PMA2020) country reports, PATH’s Monitoring Sayana Press Pilot Introduction: Final Pilot Project Results S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 1 Public sector Private sector GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF PILOT 268 facilities and 637 health huts across the 4 most populous regions, across all levels of the public sector and alongside DMPA-IM. Marie Stopes Senegal oered Sayana Press through a network of 55 clinics and mobile outreach teams in pilot areas, and Association Sénégalaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ASBEF) worked through 8 clinics and community distribution in 17 towns and cities nationwide. Agence pour le Développement du Marketing Social (ADEMAS) distributed an overbranded product, Securil Press, for sale in pharmacies. INNOVATIVE DELIVERY Both Sayana Press and DMPA-IM were introduced at the health-hut level for the first time during the pilot. SCALE-UP Decision to move to scale was made in March 2016. Regional supervision teams were trained in May and June 2016. Progressive rollout of provider training in 10 nonpilot regions began in June 2016, continuing into early 2017. STATUS OF SELF-INJECTION A self-injection operational feasibility study was completed in June 2016. Continuation/cost-eectiveness studies will be completed in 2017. Label change is pending. Clear intention to pilot self-injection. PARTNERS Ministry of Health and Social Action, ChildFund International, IntraHealth International, Agence pour le Développement du Marketing Social (ADEMAS), Marie Stopes Senegal (MSS), Agence Sénégalaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ASBEF). SENEGAL PILOT INTRODUCTION BY THE NUMBERS: JANUARY 2015–JUNE 2016 Number of providers trained in pilot 2,023 Doses administered during pilot 120,861 Proportion of doses administered to new users 24% Proportion of doses administered to users under 25 years of age 34% SENEGAL EXPANDING INJECTABLE ACCESS IN: COUNTRY OVERVIEW • Population: 14 million • Contraceptive prevalence rate, modern methods, married women: 22.3% • Injectables as proportion of method mix, married women: 39% (most popular method) Dakar Fatick Kaolack Kolda Louga Saint-Louis Tambacounda Ziguinchor Sources: Demographic and Health Surveys, Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA2020) country reports, PATH’s Monitoring Sayana Press Pilot Introduction: Final Pilot Project Results S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 2 GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF PILOT Community-based distribution by Village Health Teams in 28 out of 112 districts: 10 were managed by PATH and Pathfinder, 16 by FHI 360; and 2 by WellShare International. Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) reached youth through their nongovernmental-organization clinic site in Gulu, northern Uganda. INNOVATIVE DELIVERY The pilot introduction expanded on Uganda’s commitment to task-sharing by training many community health workers, Village Health Teams, to administer Sayana Press and DMPA-IM. SCALE-UP In April 2016, the Ministry of Health signaled its commitment to national coverage of Sayana Press. By the end of the year, several implementers had launched training in more districts and a coordinated national plan was under development. FHI 360 PATH/Pathfinder WellShare International Agago Pader Gulu Oyam Kole Alebtong Lira Amurla Kumi DokoloApac Iganga Busia Mayuge Nakasongola Nakaseke Kayunga LuweeroKibaale Mubende Kyenjojo Kyegegwa SembabuleKamwenge Kasese Kanungu Namayingo STATUS OF SELF-INJECTION Self-injection operational feasibility studies were completed in December 2016. Continuation/cost-e›ectiveness studies will be completed in mid-2017. In late 2016, self-injection of Sayana Press was piloted in Uganda’s Mubende District—the first time the practice has been available in sub-Saharan Africa outside of a research setting. Label change is pending. PARTNERS Ministry of Health, Pathfinder International, WellShare International, FHI 360, Uganda Health Marketing Group (UHMG), Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU), Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), Makerere University UGANDA PILOT INTRODUCTION BY THE NUMBERS: OCTOBER 2014–JUNE 2016 Number of providers trained in pilot 2,284 Doses administered during pilot 130,673 Proportion of doses administered to new users 29% Proportion of doses administered to users under 25 years of age 44% COUNTRY OVERVIEW • Total population: 36 million • Contraceptive prevalence rate, modern methods, all women: 21% • Injectables as proportion of the method mix, married women: 56% UGANDA EXPANDING INJECTABLE ACCESS IN: Sources: Demographic and Health Surveys, Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA2020) country reports, PATH’s Monitoring Sayana Press Pilot Introduction: Final Pilot Project Results S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 3 • To reach large volumes, introduce Sayana Press at all levels of the public sector (or public-private) in large geographies. Do not discount the potential for more remote and community-level channels to achieve large volumes as well. • To reach the largest number of new users, prioritize community-level delivery and offer injectables where previously unavailable. Increasing the number of new family planning users can contribute to reducing unmet need and increasing contraceptive prevalence. • Expect high volumes of Sayana Press compared to DMPA-IM in community- level delivery channels. Data from the pilot introduction reinforce early research data on acceptability of and preference for Sayana Press among community-level providers and their clients. • Consider opportunities for Sayana Press to increase access for young women. Explore a variety of public and private delivery channels and consider what additional training, supervision, and communications activities are needed to support and sustain access for young women and adolescent girls. • Invest in total market introduction from the origins of introduction planning and beyond. There are still limited data on Sayana Press introduction in private-sector channels, but the limited data available indicate that private-sector outlets hold great potential to increase access. RECOMMENDATIONS: PLANNING THE COUNTRY INTRODUCTION STRATEGY PA TH /W ill B oa se S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 4 RESOURCES Uganda Sayana Press Introduction Plan Summary. Available at sites.path.org/rh/recent-reproductive-health-projects/sayanapress/ sayanapress-resources/#uganda. This executive summary outlines the core elements of Uganda’s pilot introduction plan, including the country’s family planning goals, product registration process, Sayana Press partners and their roles, geographic coverage, and plans for training, end-user communications, and monitoring. Provision of Injectable Contraception Services through Community- Based Distribution. Available at www.fhi360.org/resource/provision- injectable-contraception-services-through-community-based-distribution. Produced by FHI 360 and Save the Children USA, this step-by-step guide explains how to introduce injectable contraceptives —such as DMPA-SC— into an existing community-based distribution program. Community-Based Access to Injectable Contraceptives Toolkit. Available at www.k4health.org/toolkits/cba2i. This comprehensive resource is a platform for agencies and organizations working to plan, implement, evaluate, promote, and scale up programs for community- based access to injectables and to advocate for changes to national policy and service delivery guidelines. Community-Based Health Workers Can Safely and Effectively Administer Injectable Contraceptives: Conclusions from a Technical Consultation. Available at www.who.int/reproductivehealth/ publications/family_planning/WHO_CBD_brief.pdf. This four-page summary presents the conclusions of a technical consultation of technical experts in 2009. The group reviewed extensive evidence and recommended that community-based provision of injectable contraceptives by trained community health workers is safe and effective. The document highlights program guidance and operational issues as well as priorities for new research. 4 5 PERMISSION TO BUY, IMPORT, AND USE PRODUCT IN A COUNTRY Registering a new product like Sayana Press with a country’s relevant drug regulatory authorities is essential for introduction. The national medicines regulatory authority is often a division of the ministry of health (MOH) established to ensure the safety of all medicines on the market. This group monitors the quality and efficacy of all medicines as a public health responsibility; oversees the licensing, trade, and advertising of medicines; and ensures conformity to international legal standards pertaining to the regulation of medicines. PA TH /W ill B oa se The introduction of Sayana® Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject™) promises to expand women’s access to family planning options by increasing opportunities for lower-level health workers and even clients themselves to administer injectable contraceptives. Insights from the first introductions can help inform new country experiences and transitions, whether small pilots or scaled delivery. This section discusses results and lessons learned during introduction pilots in four countries and provides recommendations to guide future efforts by ministries of health and implementing partners related to product registration. Registration 5 REGISTRATION PROCESSES AND RESPONSIBILITY Registration influences many ensuing steps in the introduction process. In most cases, a country’s regulatory authority examines available clinical data to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and quality of the product. When review is complete, it issues authorization to import and distribute the product. Registration is required for product procurement and importation, and it drives subsequent modifications to how the product is used. As the product’s manufacturer, Pfizer is responsible for Sayana Press registration. In other words, Pfizer must prepare, submit, and track regulatory submissions; determine in which markets the product should (or can S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 6 feasibly) be registered, factoring in global health priorities and country demand; and assess how many registration dossiers can be prepared, submitted, and tracked in a given time period. The company must weigh the costs required to register a product like Sayana Press in a new market against the advantages, which are measured in terms of revenue, profit, competitive position, and/or potential benefit to, and demand from, women. Sayana Press received stringent regulatory approval in 2011 from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of the United Kingdom (UK) (see Sayana Press registration milestones box). Stringent regulatory approval is the registration of a new product with one or more regulatory authorities recognized globally as having high standards, such as the UK MHRA, the US Food and Drug Administration, or the drug regulatory authorities of several other European countries as well as Japan and INTRODUCTION TIP The product manufacturer, Pfizer Inc., leads registration of Sayana Press. Australia. The UK MHRA was a critical reference point for the national registration processes in the pilot introduction countries— Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda. One question that arose often from global and national stakeholders during the pilot phase is whether Sayana Press should be prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Like stringent regulatory approval, WHO prequalification can sometimes help streamline national registration processes. Reproductive health procurement agencies do not typically require the products that have been approved by an internationally recognized stringent regulatory authority to also be prequalified by WHO. In some cases, as an alternative to official registration, Sayana Press has been made available in a country based on a waiver. A INTRODUCTION TIP Sayana Press has stringent regulatory approval from the United Kingdom— including for self-injection—that serves as a key reference point for registrations in other countries. Sayana Press and the World Health Organization Collaborative Registration Procedure In 2016, Pfizer worked through the WHO Collaborative Registration Procedure to facilitate rapid review and approval of Sayana Press, including labeling for self-injection in multiple countries. The process requires working closely with WHO to submit the multiple dossiers required. Concurrently, Pfizer submitted individual dossiers in some markets. Through this process, it is possible that up to 18 countries (see below) may approve Sayana Press, including the self-injection indication by early 2017. This time frame contrasts sharply with the lengthy time frame that is typical during a standard country approval process. All country standards for review of the regulatory submission are maintained, while WHO’s involvement ensures a consistent, expedited review. The WHO Collaborative Registration Procedure has been used for many products that already have WHO prequalification, including oral contraceptive pills. The process also is being explored as an option for products that have been approved by a stringent regulatory agency but are not prequalified, such as Sayana Press. The 18 countries participating are Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 7 UNPREDICTABILITY OF REGISTRATION TIMELINES Product registration for the first four Sayana Press pilot introductions was complex and time-consuming. Because the registration application process is driven by Pfizer and depends on country regulatory processes, it is the part of the introduction process over which implementing organizations have the least control. Preparation for regulatory submissions alone can require considerable resources. For example, after the July 2012 London Summit on Family Planning and the commitment of donor resources to Sayana Press pilot introduction, it took about six months for Pfizer to prepare multiple, simultaneous regulatory submissions for diverse country systems. National regulatory submissions were made in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda in early 2013. waiver is a type of interim regulatory approval granted for a limited time frame concurrent with the full regulatory approval process. Waivers are often requested for a specific purpose such as a small pilot or trial. For example, Sayana Press was initially made available via the waiver process in Malawi, for the purposes of a self-injection study, and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo because of complexities and lengthy timelines associated with country-level regulatory approval. INTRODUCTION TIP Waivers are an option if country registration processes might delay product introduction substantially. Sayana Press registration milestones Since 2007, the safety, efficacy, and quality of Sayana Press and the drug contained in Sayana Press (DMPA-SC [generic name for the subcutaneous form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate]) have been thoroughly vetted through multiple steps in the registration process. • 2007: Sayana receives stringent regulatory approval from the UK MHRA. Sayana is the same drug that is used in Sayana Press, but it is packaged in a glass, prefilled syringe for administration by a health worker. Pfizer’s approved registration with the MHRA permitted additional country registrations in Europe through a “cascade” to other European Union countries that have a mutual recognition agreement for drug regulatory approvals with the MHRA. • 2011: Sayana Press receives stringent regulatory approval from the UK MHRA, based on an amendment to the original Sayana registration. The amendment requested regulatory approval of a container change: Sayana in the Uniject injection system (formerly known as depo-subQ in Uniject, now known as Sayana Press). • 2013–ongoing: Sayana Press receives national regulatory approval in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda and beyond. With stringent MHRA approval of Sayana Press in place, Pfizer filed for regulatory approval in more individual countries, including the four pilot countries. The submission requirements, timelines, and processes for review and approval in each country varied. • 2015: Sayana Press self-injection approved by the UK MHRA. Based both on commercial and global health interest, Pfizer prepared additional regulatory documentation on the safety and efficacy of self-injection, referencing studies undertaken in the United States and UK. Pfizer submitted a new application to the MHRA to update the Sayana Press label to include self- injection as an additional route of administration, which was approved in 2015. • 2016–ongoing: Sayana Press self-injection label approved by national regulatory authorities in Niger, Uganda, and beyond. The MHRA’s approval of Sayana Press for self-injection is now facilitating submission, review, and approval of a set of country-level applications for label updates. Niger was the first country to have national regulatory approval for the new product label. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 8 In the four pilot countries, the time from Pfizer’s regulatory submission to national regulatory approval varied from just six weeks to more than a year. If effective coordination mechanisms are in place, planning for introduction can proceed while product registration is in process. For example, PATH continued to revise and review Sayana Press training curricula with the MOHs and engaged local partners to plan provider training and behavior change communication activities. In addition, PATH Sayana Press coordinators and key ministry representatives helped track each step of the registration process, identify bottlenecks, and keep the process moving, to a certain extent. Still, final implementation of certain country- level activities was delayed given uncertainty about the timing of the product’s arrival in country. Flexibility in developing work plans and perseverance are keys to successful project implementation. For example, provider training was planned but not scheduled until the product was in country and available for distribution. Launch events were planned with official dates on hold pending final regulatory approval and certainty of the product’s arrival in the country. Success in navigating these unpredictable timelines during the pilots reflects the value of coordination to keep stakeholders informed and activities moving forward. INTRODUCTION TIP While implementers are not directly involved in product registration, they can check with authorities and see how it is going. On occasion, implementers may be able to assist in resolving problems that stakeholders or regulators are not aware of. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 4 9 • Get up to speed on the status of Sayana Press registration globally. Know that the safety, efficacy, and quality of this product have been thoroughly vetted. Understanding key facts about the product’s regulatory history— that the drug is approved in the United States and Europe, and that it is approved for self- injection by a stringent regulatory authority— can be useful for navigating many steps in the introduction process. • Build flexibility into introduction plan timelines. Registration is the manufacturer’s responsibility, and national processes are often unpredictable. National product registration processes often take much more time than expected. • Track the registration process and know what can be done to move introduction forward in the meantime. While waiting for registration, it is helpful to stay in touch with key MOH staff and the manufacturer’s point person, in case questions or obstacles arise that require coordination. Introduction planning activities such as design of the monitoring system, revision or development of a provider training curriculum, and conceptualization of communication campaigns can begin before registration is in hand. RECOMMENDATIONS: REGISTRATION PA TH /G ab e Bi en cz yc ki S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 5 0 RESOURCES WHO’s Essential Medicines and Health Products Information Portal. Available at apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/. This website portal serves as a repository for full-text articles about all aspects of international drug and health product registration. Access to Medicines and Drug Regulation in Developing Countries: A Resource Guide for DFID. Available at apps.who.int/medicinedocs/ documents/s18246en/s18246en.pdf. This paper provides an overview of the debate about how developing-country drug-regulation agencies are funded and the extent to which they should build local capacity or rely on regulatory bodies in developed countries. WHO Launches the PQP Collaborative Registration Procedure. Available at apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Js21317en/. This concise summary of WHO’s Collaborative Registration Procedure describes the advantages of this program as well as experiences and lessons learned during the launch of the activity in 2012. WHO Collaborative Registration Procedure for Medicines in Developing Countries. Master’s Dissertation. Available at dgra.de/media/pdf/ studium/masterthesis/master_haas_s.pdf. This thesis provides an in-depth review of key WHO-led procedures for registering medicines in developing countries, including prequalification, the concept of essential medicines, and collaborative registration. 5 1 PURCHASING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PRODUCT Procurement is the process of purchasing or ordering a commodity; an essential step in that process is quantification, or estimating the amount of product to procure. Quantification includes forecasting (estimating the quantity of produce to be consumed) and supply planning (developing order quantities and delivery schedules to meet these needs while accounting for various stock/supply factors). Regular quantification exercises for estimating commodity requirements for family planning are generally led by the ministry of health (MOH) with input from partners and donors. Quantification is not a one-time event but rather an ongoing process that requires updating to adjust for new information such as consumption data, changes in introduction plans, and shifts in timing or quantity of product shipments. The results feed into each country’s ongoing or periodic commodity procurement process. PATH and partners undertook a version of this quantification exercise for the Sayana Press pilot introductions in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda to be consistent with country processes, fulfill donor procurement requirements, and provide an estimate of initial product needs based on assumptions about product use. As the first introduction of Sayana Press in nonresearch settings, these quantification exercises were somewhat unique, but they ultimately merged into each country’s procurement process. Quantification for any new contraceptive product ideally integrates into existing PA TH /F io na W al ug em be The introduction of Sayana® Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject™) promises to expand women’s access to family planning options by increasing opportunities for lower-level health workers and even clients themselves to administer injectable contraceptives. Insights from the first introductions can help inform new country experiences and transitions, whether small pilots or scaled delivery. This section discusses results and lessons learned during introduction pilots in four countries and provides recommendations to guide future efforts by ministries of health and implementing partners related to quantification and procurement. Quantification and procurement 6 S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 5 2 programs and systems to become part of routine mobilization of funds and commodity orders. PATH and the country partners—most centrally, the MOH, as these first introductions were largely public-sector endeavors—worked closely with the country offices of the primary procurement agency partner, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to develop the first Sayana Press quantifications. Relevant MOH partners in each country reviewed, refined, and approved the proposed quantifications for the initial Sayana Press orders before officially submitting them to UNFPA headquarters in Copenhagen to kick off procurement. The introduction plans developed for each of the four pilot introduction countries specified the pilot’s geographic locations, service delivery channels, and training plans (see Section 4: Planning the country introduction strategy). This information was key to each country’s quantification of its initial Sayana Press order. Additional factors beyond the introduction plan itself that were relevant to product quantification included: • Timing of country registration. Each country’s introduction plan and quantification reflected assumptions about the date when official country registration would be in hand. Shifts in registration timelines in each country led to shifts in assumptions about product uptake and quantification (see Section 5: Registration). • Product manufacturing dates and shelf life. Sayana Press is authorized for a three-year shelf life. Some units that Pfizer had available for pilot introduction were manufactured as early as 2012. Because the pilot introductions did not begin until 2014, after the product was registered, the shelf life of each available product batch had to be matched with the projected schedule of training rollout and uptake, and influenced the final quantification. Countries are now supplied with newly manufactured product and stock closer to full shelf-life; however, this unique consideration for the pilot had to be accounted for to try to prevent stock expiring in country, which would require additional orders. • Country policies. Each country had a different policy indicating the minimum remaining shelf life for products procured for public-sector family planning programs. These policies were factored into the quantification process. For example, Senegal requires medicines to have at least 66 to 80 percent of product shelf life remaining upon delivery in country. PATH worked with country partners to document these policies as inputs to the quantification process. QUANTIFICATION PROCESS: HOW MUCH PRODUCT IS NEEDED FOR PILOT INTRODUCTION? Sayana Press was a new product in the four pilot introduction countries and had no historic consumption information available to inform initial estimates for quantification. However, data on historic and current use of other injectable contraceptives—notably, DMPA-IM (generic name for the intramuscular form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate)—are highly relevant for estimating potential Sayana Press consumption. PATH and partners started the process by consulting available technical resources and reviewing injectable contraceptive use data for each country. These resources helped to frame PATH’s thinking about the variables to be considered in estimating consumption and quantification for Sayana Press. INTRODUCTION TIP Determine the minimum remaining shelf life of a product required by the country government and the procurement agency, such as the United Nations Population Fund or United States Agency for International Development. INTRODUCTION TIP Review data on injectable contraception use to help inform Sayana Press quantification. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 5 3 CASE STUDY Consumption estimated for quantification versus actual consumption in Uganda PATH modeled Sayana Press consumption in Uganda to prepare the quantification estimate. The model reflected the pilot introduction strategy of introducing Sayana Press in 28 districts through Village Health Teams (VHTs) consisting of volunteer community-based health workers. PATH’s model incorporated training details from the institutions designated at that time to train participating VHTs: Pathfinder International, FHI 360, and PATH. Additional assumptions incorporated estimates of: • Numbers of new and continuing clients. • Rates of retention of VHTs in the pilot program by quarter. • Switching from DMPA-IM (for VHTs already trained to deliver DMPA-IM). • The maximum number of new clients for any VHT. The model then projected how Sayana Press uptake would increase over time based on the number of VHTs trained per quarter. It assumed that 2,300 VHTs would be trained and that all training would be completed in 2014. The initial estimate based on forecasting was that 298,860 units of Sayana Press would be needed through the fourth quarter of 2015, and an order was placed for 331,000 doses. The actual consumption of Sayana Press in Uganda as of the fourth quarter of 2015 was 68,909. Thus, actual consumption was well below the estimate. There are a few reasons for this disparity: • Timing of trainings. Provider training started later and took longer than the quantification model assumed; as a result, uptake increased later and more slowly than expected. • VHT capacity. The modeled assumptions about client ramp-up and retention proved to be inaccurate. The models assumed that each VHT would have 22 to 27 Sayana Press clients per quarter. Results from PATH’s monitoring data show that an average of 18 doses were administered per quarter per VHT in Uganda, as of mid-2016. Thus, each VHT has had fewer Sayana Press clients on average than originally estimated. Despite the significant disparity between the forecast estimate and actual consumption numbers in Uganda, the country has not been overstocked with the product. Consumption rose steadily over the course of the two-year pilot. As of mid-2016, most of the original 331,000 units ordered for Uganda had been consumed or distributed to service delivery points in the field, and based on the subsequent quantification exercise, a new order of 548,000 units arrived in June 2016. PA TH /W ill B oa se S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 5 4 PATH supported the quantification exercises differently in each country depending on the context. In Burkina Faso and Niger, the UNFPA country programs were already working closely with the MOH to support overall contraceptive commodity estimation, including quantification for Sayana Press pilot introduction. In these two cases, the country partners developed their initial quantification of Sayana Press based on the introduction plans and submitted them to UNFPA headquarters. PATH supported the Burkina Faso and Niger processes by tracking and aggregating the four-country quantifications and coordinating multicountry communication with UNFPA headquarters, specifically the procurement unit in Copenhagen. For Senegal and Uganda, PATH developed models in Excel for estimating Sayana Press consumption as a key input to country quantification. These consumption models were built from “the bottom up,” incorporating information about: • Numbers of health workers to be trained, training locations, geographic coverage, and expected timeline for trainings. • Estimates of Sayana Press units that each trained health worker would be expected to administer to women each quarter (see box on page 55). • Assumptions about the number of reinjecting clients, new clients, and dropouts. • Estimates of the number of women using Sayana Press each quarter (i.e., estimated number of Sayana Press units to be consumed) based in part on data from prior acceptability studies. Such information was more readily available in Uganda, where community- based distribution (CBD) of injectables was already under way, but was scarce in Senegal, which had limited experience with CBD of injectables. The resulting output was a modeled estimate of product consumption over time that could be modified as assumptions and timelines shifted. These consumption estimates formed the basis of the Senegal and Uganda quantifications. Consumption patterns form the basis for quantification exercises, which in turn form the basis for procurement orders. The first order for Sayana Press units placed by each pilot country varied by country setting, specifically, 100,000 doses in Niger; 250,000 doses in Burkina Faso; 331,000 doses in Uganda; and 448,600 in Senegal. Subsequent orders were made semiannually based on emerging consumption data and remaining stock available in each country. PA TH /S iri W oo d S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 5 5 How many units did health workers administer per month during the pilot introductions? PATH developed estimates of the average number of Sayana Press doses administered per trained health provider, by month, across different delivery channels in the four countries. After provider training was completed, the number of doses administered per trained provider generally increased gradually over time as introduction progressed, or fluctuated due to stockouts. The graph below features the month with the highest number of doses administered per trained provider from each country and delivery channel, representing the maximum monthly number of doses administered per trained provider during pilot introduction. The graph reflects the potential number of doses administered per trained provider, per month, in the absence of contextual challenges, such as stockouts. The month with the maximum number of doses administered per trained provider varied across settings, falling between March 2015 and May 2016. These data may help to inform new quantifications in countries planning Sayana Press introduction strategies similar to those of Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, or Uganda. Maximum monthly number of Sayana Press doses administered per trained health provider during pilot introduction—Burkina Faso, Senegal, Niger, & Uganda (2015–2016) Pu bl ic se ct or , a ll l ev els NG O se ct or Pu bl ic se ct or , a ll l ev els Pu bl ic se ct or , fa cil ity le ve l Pu bl ic se ct or , h ea lth hu ts Pu bl ic se ct or , h ea lth hu ts NG O- se ct or C BD Pu bl ic- se ct or C BD 0 3 6 9 12 15 Burkina Faso Senegal Niger Uganda 7.5 14.2 5.8 6.3 3.2 12 4 6.2 Due to wide variation in country settings and introduction strategies, it is not feasible to directly compare the number of doses administered per trained provider across countries without carefully considering context. The high number of doses attributed to Marie Stopes International and Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-Être Familial providers in Burkina Faso’s nongovernmental organization (NGO) sector, for example, is likely due to their intensive focus on outreach. In another instance, because Niger is the only country that did not introduce Sayana Press alongside DMPA-IM, it makes sense that providers at public-sector health huts administered a higher number of doses compared to providers at public sector health huts in Senegal, where DMPA-IM was also readily available. These and other factors—such as the proportion of injectables in the method mix or location of service delivery points (e.g., community versus facility level)—make it more useful to consider the potential number of doses administered per trained provider in a month for individual introduction strategies given the local context (see Section 4: Planning the country introduction strategy). Note: CBD, community-based distribution; NGO, nongovernmental organization. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 5 6 • Use the introduction plan to guide quantification. Information from the introduction plan should inform the quantification exercise for initial Sayana Press procurement requirements. Key information includes the number, types, and locations of providers to be trained to administer the product and the timing of the trainings. • Consider data on doses administered per provider from similar delivery strategies. PATH data from the pilot countries show a wide range of doses administered per provider, from 3 units per month administered by community providers in Senegal to 14 units per month administered by facility-based providers in the NGO sector in Burkina Faso. Consider the ways these contexts vary to determine their relevance for quantification assumptions in new settings. • Use multiple sources to achieve accurate quantification. In addition to service delivery and training inputs, the initial product quantification process requires considering multiple other variables, including the manufacturer’s planning horizons, product shelf life and expiry dates, country policies, and the timing for receipt of final formal registration. All of these factors affect the quantification and procurement process as well as the date when the product first becomes available to clients. RECOMMENDATIONS: QUANTIFICATION AND PROCUREMENT PA TH /S iri W oo d S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 5 7 RESOURCES A Forecasting Guide for New and Underused Methods of Family Planning. Available at www.k4health.org/toolkits/NUMs-forecasting- guide. This resource offers a framework and guidance to program managers involved in forecasting for new contraceptive technologies or underused methods that are moving to scale. The guide identifies common pitfalls in forecasting and recommends strategies to avoid them. Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Available at www. dhsprogram.com/. The DHS Program disseminates data collected from large, household surveys conducted regularly in more than 80 countries. Data are available in country reports, as well as in mobile applications, a spatial data repository, and STATcompiler, a program that allows users to make custom tables based on thousands of demographic and health indicators. Quantification of Health Commodities: A Guide to Forecasting and Supply Planning for Procurement. Available at www.jsi.com This guide was developed to assist technical advisors, program managers, warehouse managers, procurement officers, and service providers in estimating the total commodity needs and costs for successful implementation of national health program strategies and goals. The guide also helps these individuals to identify funding needs and gaps for procuring the required commodities, and plan procurements and shipment delivery schedules to ensure a sustained and effective supply of health commodities. The Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition publications web page. Available at www.rhsupplies.org/activities-resources/publications/. The website is a repository for many resources including the Reducing Stockouts Impact Calculator, Strategic Pathway to Reproductive Health Commodity Security, Optimizing Supply Chains for Improved Performance, Contraceptive Stockouts: A Review of the Published and Grey Literature, and Building a Strong Supply Chain Workforce: The Role of Pre-Service Training. 5 8 TRAINING AND SUPERVISION ENSURE QUALITY IN SERVICE DELIVERY Training of health providers and follow-up supervision and support are at the heart of any product introduction process. These activities contributed to successful introductions in the Sayana Press pilot countries. The quality of training and supervision strongly influence whether and how a product or innovation reaches users. Effective training and supervision require sufficient planning, committed personnel, and financial resources, all of which are integral to a program’s success. Efforts to train providers who will teach women to self- inject are just beginning in a few countries, but many of the same high-level issues will apply. Training and supervising providers 7 During the pilot introductions, PATH and partners trained more than 7,500 individuals in the administration of Sayana Press and DMPA-IM (generic name for the intramuscular form of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate). The cadre of providers trained and the approach to training were unique to each country setting, but in all cases they reinforced the philosophy of informed choice and a client’s right to select the family planning method that best meets her needs. Based on the diverse approaches taken to implementing provider training across the pilot settings, PATH and partners reaped significant learning about various aspects of training and supervision—including how to PA TH /W ill B oa se The introduction of Sayana® Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject™) promises to expand women’s access to family planning options by increasing opportunities for lower-level health workers and even clients themselves to administer injectable contraceptives. Insights from the first introductions can help inform new country experiences and transitions, whether small pilots or scaled delivery. This section discusses results and lessons learned during introduction pilots in four countries and provides recommendations to guide future efforts by ministries of health and implementing partners related to training and supervision. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 5 9 effectively begin offering a new method in the context of informed choice. ASSESSING TRAINING NEEDS In most settings, PATH and partners conducted training needs assessments to inform training strategies and plans. PATH worked with MOHs and NGO partners to determine which providers needed training on what topics, their level of education, their background, and the family planning training they had previously received. Skilled family planning providers only needed training in Sayana Press and an injectable contraception refresher. Lower cadres of workers, such as Uganda’s community health workers (Village Health Team [VHT] members), needed comprehensive training on informed choice counseling and all available family planning methods. The training needs assessments were thorough and informative, but flexibility in implementation was helpful as new needs were identified during or after trainings. For example, as the pilot introduction began in Uganda, community-based distribution (CBD) of injectables was an approved national policy. PATH expected that many VHTs would already have strong family planning experience and know how to administer DMPA-IM. As VHT trainings started, however, PATH found that many new VHTs had no experience providing any contraception at all. This necessitated taking more time during the training to ensure that all VHTs were fully equipped to provide high-quality services and a range of methods, including oral contraceptives and male and female condoms, as well as both intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. In Senegal, after training was thought to be complete, the introduction team discovered that there was a cadre of family planning counselors at many facilities who were clients’ first points of contact but who did not know about Sayana Press. PATH, the MOH, and regional teams organized a second round of trainings to ensure that these counselors would include Sayana Press in the method mix during initial family planning counseling sessions with clients. INTRODUCTION TIP Train more than one provider per site whenever possible so clients will have continuity of service if a provider is absent or transfers to another facility. Factors to consider when planning to train providers During the pilot introduction planning process, PATH worked closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) in each country to conduct a needs assessment and strategize the best approach for provider training. The assessment identified the following: • Which entities would fund training. • Which entity would lead training (provide trainers)—whether the MOH or nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). • The number and type(s) of providers to be trained and at what level, and how much family planning training these providers had already received. • Training approaches and timelines. • Procurement of adequate product and supplies for training/injection practice. • The topics that provider training would cover. • The process for and timing of adapting Sayana Press training materials to the local context and integrating them into existing family planning training curricula. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 0 TRAINING DRIVES INTRODUCTION RESULTS Introduction or scale-up strategies, including the delivery channels and types of providers being trained, will drive training strategies, which will, in turn, drive results. For example, the MOHs in Burkina Faso and Senegal implemented an efficient training approach that worked well for introducing Sayana Press at all levels of the health system and in relatively large geographies. The governments organized centralized trainings for national master trainers, then regional trainings- of-trainers, followed by a simultaneous cascade approach to train district providers in each pilot introduction region. In Burkina Faso and Senegal, all trainings of providers with prior injection experience covered the administration of DMPA-IM and Sayana Press, lasted for two days, and included theory, practice on injection models, INTRODUCTION TIP Work with existing regional or district MOH trainers to increase cost-effectiveness and sustainability of training. and a practicum. NGOs trained their own providers. This approach enabled the training of a large number of health workers in the shortest time possible, and product use began to increase in these two countries relatively quickly after trainings began (see Senegal graph). By contrast, training in Uganda was led by NGOs and involved a district-by-district approach spanning nearly 30 districts. Uganda’s introduction was exclusively through community health workers, and their training was longer (seven days) and conducted in less- centralized locations (see text box on training community health workers [CHWs]). Uganda trained the largest number of individuals to administer Sayana Press—2,100 VHTs—over about an eight-month period. Consumption increased gradually as trainings rolled out over a longer period of time (see Uganda graph). INTRODUCTION TIP A cascade training approach necessitates strong master trainers with a thorough understanding of Sayana Press. Cumulative number of providers trained, by type, and total number of Sayana Press doses administered, by month—Senegal D ec em be r 2 01 4 Ja nu ar y 20 15 Fe br ua ry 2 01 5 M ar ch 2 01 5 A pr il 20 15 M ay 2 01 5 Ju ne 2 01 5 Ju ly 2 01 5 A ug us t 2 01 5 Se pt em be r 2 01 5 O ct ob er 2 01 5 N ov em be r 2 01 5 D ec em be r 2 01 5 Ja nu ar y 20 16 Fe br ua ry 2 01 6 M ar ch 2 01 6 A pr il 20 16 M ay 2 01 6 Ju ne 2 01 6 Se pt em be r 2 01 4 O ct ob er 2 01 4 N ov em be r 2 01 4 D ec em be r 2 01 4 Ja nu ar y 20 15 Fe br ua ry 2 01 5 M ar ch 2 01 5 A pr il 20 15 M ay 2 01 5 Ju ne 2 01 5 Ju ly 2 01 5 A ug us t 2 01 5 Se pt em be r 2 01 5 O ct ob er 2 01 5 N ov em be r 2 01 5 D ec em be r 2 01 5 Ja nu ar y 20 16 Fe br ua ry 2 01 6 M ar ch 2 01 6 A pr il 20 16 M ay 2 01 6 Ju ne 2 01 6 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 Total Sayana Press doses administered Family planning counselors (cumulative) Community-based providers (cumulative) Facility-based providers (cumulative) Sayana Press doses administered Village Health Teams trained (cumulative) S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 1 D ec em be r 2 01 4 Ja nu ar y 20 15 Fe br ua ry 2 01 5 M ar ch 2 01 5 A pr il 20 15 M ay 2 01 5 Ju ne 2 01 5 Ju ly 2 01 5 A ug us t 2 01 5 Se pt em be r 2 01 5 O ct ob er 2 01 5 N ov em be r 2 01 5 D ec em be r 2 01 5 Ja nu ar y 20 16 Fe br ua ry 2 01 6 M ar ch 2 01 6 A pr il 20 16 M ay 2 01 6 Ju ne 2 01 6 Se pt em be r 2 01 4 O ct ob er 2 01 4 N ov em be r 2 01 4 D ec em be r 2 01 4 Ja nu ar y 20 15 Fe br ua ry 2 01 5 M ar ch 2 01 5 A pr il 20 15 M ay 2 01 5 Ju ne 2 01 5 Ju ly 2 01 5 A ug us t 2 01 5 Se pt em be r 2 01 5 O ct ob er 2 01 5 N ov em be r 2 01 5 D ec em be r 2 01 5 Ja nu ar y 20 16 Fe br ua ry 2 01 6 M ar ch 2 01 6 A pr il 20 16 M ay 2 01 6 Ju ne 2 01 6 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 Total Sayana Press doses administered Family planning counselors (cumulative) Community-based providers (cumulative) Facility-based providers (cumulative) Sayana Press doses administered Village Health Teams trained (cumulative) Cumulative number of providers trained and total number of Sayana Press administered, by month—Uganda Tips for training community health workers Introducing Sayana Press presents many countries with the opportunity to strengthen and expand CBD of contraception. When training at the community level, country teams learned that the need for more comprehensive, more extensive training for CHWs may require more resources or a more gradual approach to training. In addition, because CHWs are often dispersed in remote locations, considerable travel time for both trainers and CHWs is required. Different approaches included: • Taking the time needed for comprehension and mastery. The MOHs in both Niger and Senegal called for a four-day Sayana Press training for community health agents, including two days of theory and two days of practicum. In Uganda, VHTs received a seven-day comprehensive family planning training with four days of theory and three days of practicum. • Spreading out trainings to minimize confusion and time away from service delivery. Senegal conducted trainings on DMPA-IM and Sayana Press in two discrete sessions separated by two months to avoid confusion concerning the two types of injection techniques. • Maximizing convenience for CHWs. PATH also found in Uganda and other settings that on-site/ residential training helped trainees concentrate and perform better than when they commuted daily from their homes to a training site. Additional costs to cover accommodation and per diems for trainees were offset by efficiency and time savings (e.g., ability to begin the day earlier and avoid lateness/absences). CHWs, such as VHTs in Uganda and facility-based outreach workers in Burkina Faso, who are experienced in conducting immunization campaigns and administering vaccines adapted to administering Sayana Press very quickly. This cadre can move to different areas in the community and can be supported at minimal cost, such as by allocating transport fees. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 2 CURRICULUM AND CONTENT DECISIONS Countries introducing Sayana Press can choose to train providers on just the one method, or on contraception more broadly. For example, new product introduction can provide programs with the opportunity to revisit and update their overall family planning training curriculum as well as offer refresher trainings for existing cadres of health workers. This depends on the time and resources available, as well as the country context. There may be trade-offs to consider: a more comprehensive training requires more time and funds but reinforces informed choice by strengthening provider counseling for all contraceptive methods. When the MOH introduced Sayana Press in Uganda, the PATH-developed training materials (see text box) were adapted and integrated into the existing ten-day MOH family planning training for VHTs. The ten-day training curriculum was then revised, condensed to seven days, and enhanced with a module on youth-friendly services. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Senegal adapted the PATH Sayana Press training materials to the country context and simply trained existing cadres of health workers on the new method only. In Senegal and Burkina Faso, partners integrated Sayana Press training into the national family planning training curriculum only after the pilot phase was completed and the MOH decided to scale up Sayana Press nationally. Regardless of whether the training was narrow or broad, PATH and partners emphasized that Sayana Press is intended to expand the range of methods available to women and should be offered as one new option in the context of informed choice. Sayana Press is not intended to replace or supersede other family planning methods. In most pilot settings, Sayana Press was offered side by side with DMPA-IM. In the case of Niger, Sayana Press was the only form of injectable contraceptive available at health posts, but providers were trained to administer DMPA-IM as a back-up method in case of Sayana Press stockouts. Some health workers may be inclined to promote or have a bias toward Sayana Press over other options for various reasons, such as their excitement about a new product or a misunderstanding that they should specifically promote Sayana Press. In addition, lower-skilled health workers, such as CHWs, may be more Sayana Press training curriculum available online PATH’s Sayana Press training materials (sites.path.org/rh/?p=436#training) were first used in 2012 to train facility- and community-based health service providers on the use of Sayana Press (formerly known as depo-subQ in Uniject) in acceptability studies led by PATH and FHI 360 in Senegal and Uganda. Those studies revealed that the curriculum enabled providers to deliver Sayana Press safely and effectively, even community-based health workers who had never given injections. The materials were then updated with information from the studies and modified for training outside a research context. Available in both French and English, the materials address essential content for instructing providers on Sayana Press delivery, including a comprehensive overview of the product and its administration, as well as client screening and counseling skills. Training methodologies include presentations, role-playing, discussions, and hands-on practice. The Sayana Press training is intended to take one to two days, though this may vary depending on context and the training participants’ background and experience. PATH’s training materials are designed for adaptation to the local context and integration into a country program’s broader training curriculum for family planning providers. To date, the materials have been adapted and used in at least eight countries. The materials were used to train more than 7,500 family planning providers in Sayana Press administration—including nearly 600 providers who serve as trainers, master trainers, or supervisors—across the four initial pilot countries. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 3 Injection technique generally takes practice and supervision to master, both during training and the practicum. During injection practice on prosthetic models, participants’ injection technique was evaluated using an observation checklist to determine competency (see example, next page). Participants were encouraged to practice as many times as necessary to master the technique and gain confidence in their skill. After successful completion of theoretical training and injection practice, participants took a field practicum. Practicum requirements varied by country context, depending on the type of providers being trained, the contraceptive methods covered, and specific training objectives (see text box). comfortable administering a subcutaneous injection rather than intramuscular injection because of ease of administration. For these reasons, it is important during initial training to emphasize the full range of methods available and teach counseling techniques that support clients’ informed choice. EVALUATING PROVIDER COMPETENCY AFTER TRAINING Sayana Press training in the four pilot countries included theory, hands-on practice administering injections on a prosthetic model, and a supervised field practicum in which training participants gain real-world experience working with family planning clients. PATH and partners evaluated both theoretical knowledge and contraceptive delivery skills to determine provider competency. Sayana Press theoretical knowledge generally included how to initiate the contraceptive method, contraindications, side effects, reinjection timing, and injection safety; it was evaluated through a pre- and posttraining evaluation (available in PATH’s Sayana Press online training materials at sites.path.org/ rh/?p=436#eval). INTRODUCTION TIP Trainers can familiarize themselves with the pre- and posttraining evaluation to ensure they repeatedly reinforce key issues during Sayana Press training. “Outreach workers [agents itinerant de santé or AIS] don’t traditionally provide family planning services, and for most of them it was their first time to be trained on contraceptives. Since we don’t want to promote Sayana Press specifically, it is important to train the AIS to speak about all methods during counseling and education sessions.” – Alain Kaboré, United Nations Population Fund Sayana Press Coordinator in Burkina Faso Posttraining evaluation: How good is good enough? Generally, only trainees who passed the Sayana Press theoretical exam would go on to practice administering the method and then take the practicum. The initial recommended passing score on the posttraining evaluation was 80 percent or higher. In practice, however, not all trainees attained 80 percent or better on the posttraining evaluation. As a result, countries adapted their own minimum passing requirements according to the provider cadre and local context. In Uganda, for example, some trainees who demonstrated promise as VHT members did not achieve a minimum score of 80 percent. PATH instead evaluated the extent to which VHT members improved their score from baseline. Any VHT members struggling with content were given the opportunity to move to practice but were supervised more closely during the practicum. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 4 Sayana Press Sayana Press is a registered trademark of Pfizer, Inc. Uniject is a trademark of BD. Checklist for Sayana® Press Injection Practice Trainers and trainees can use this checklist during injection practice on nonhuman models. Trainers can also use it when evaluating whether a trainee can give a Sayana® Press injection according to the performance standards. At the end of the training lesson, each trainee must demonstrate to the trainer that they can competently administer a Sayana Press injection. Steps Observations 1 2 3 1. Places safety box and cotton swabs (optional) within arm’s reach. 2. Washes hands (during the training, this step may be stated aloud or mimicked rather than actual handwashing). 3. Selects the injection site (and cleans if needed). 4. Opens the Uniject™ injection system pouch by tearing the notch. 5. Checks the expiration date and makes sure the DMPA is at room temperature. 6. Holds the Uniject by the port while mixing. 7. Mixes the DMPA by shaking it vigorously for 30 seconds. 8. Checks to make sure the DMPA is mixed and there is no damage to the Uniject. 9. Holds the Uniject with the needle pointing upward during activation. 10. Holds the Uniject by the port while activating. 11. Pushes the needle shield and port together to fully to activate the Uniject for use. 12. Pinches the “skin” of the model to form a tent. 13. Holds the port of the Uniject while inserting the needle. 14. Inserts the needle into the tent of “skin” between the thumb and fore�nger. 15. Inserts the needle at a downward angle. 16. Inserts the needle completely so that the port is in full contact with the injection model. 17. Moves fingers from the port to the reservoir while still pinching the skin. 18. Squeezes the reservoir slowly to inject the contraceptive—taking about 5–7 seconds. 19. Removes the Uniject from the injection model. 20. Releases the fingers used to pinch the skin and create the tent. 21. Places the used Uniject immediately into a safety box without replacing the needle shield. Key √ = Satisfactory U = Unsatisfactory (attempted but not to standard) NA = Not applicable (e.g., handwashing, cleaning site) S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 5 Injection technique: Practice makes for excellence During the practicum phase, training participants generally administer injectable contraception under the supervision of a qualified provider to clients who have selected that method through informed choice counseling. Participants’ injection technique is again evaluated using the same observational checklist, with supervisors helping them to master their technique. During the pilots, the number of supervised practicum injections required before providers were certified to inject independently varied by country. In Uganda, a minimum of five successful injections of both Sayana Press and DMPA-IM were required during practicums. In other countries, and in trainings for qualified providers with previous injection experience, a smaller number of successful client injections was required. In the case of Uganda’s VHTs, participants had to master their technique on an injection model before moving on to the practicum. To complete their practicum, VHTs were stationed at health facilities, where under the supervision of a trained provider (usually a nurse or midwife), they were then required to lead a community health talk, provide general family planning counseling to clients, and correctly administer five injections each of Sayana Press and DMPA-IM, following the observational checklist, before they were certified to offer family planning in their community. When training was first initiated in Burkina Faso, the number of participants in each district training session was too high (averaged 30). As a result, many of them were unable to practice a sufficient number of injections during the practicum phase because it was difficult to mobilize enough clients to enable trainees to gain practical experience administering Sayana Press. Other countries encountered similar challenges in matching trainees’ needs to master injection technique with client volume. PA TH /W ill B oa se INTRODUCTION TIP Plan practicum sessions during times of high client volume at facilities to ensure that trainees can gain sufficient injection experience in the allotted time frame. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 6 TRAINING PROVIDERS TO COLLECT DATA Because this was a pilot project, PATH trained all providers to complete monitoring data collection forms that were collected and entered into a centralized database to track results (see Section 10: Monitoring and evaluation). The quality of program monitoring data depended on the quality of provider training on data collection as well as posttraining supervision. In all settings, it proved most effective to train health workers in collection and management of monitoring data at the same time as training on counseling and administration of Sayana Press. Data collection was a discrete training module. To ensure good data quality, it was necessary to devote adequate time to this topic to allow for theory, as well as time for providers to practice using the monitoring tools through role-playing. When training participants are swept up in the excitement of learning to administer a new product, monitoring can fall to the wayside. Furthermore, training curricula are often designed with monitoring modules toward the end, so any delays in the training schedule can potentially impinge on the time allocated to cover monitoring. Investments by PATH and partners in training providers to become familiar with filling in monitoring forms—especially CHWs who did not have extensive experience with these forms—increased the project’s ability to obtain high-quality data in a timely manner. SELF-INJECTION: TRAINING PROVIDERS TO BE TRAINERS Sayana Press injections are mainly available from trained providers at present, but self- injection is under regulatory, policy, and programmatic consideration in an increasing number of countries. PATH’s self-injection research to date indicates that thorough training of providers and clients will enable INTRODUCTION TIP Devote sufficient time during initial provider training to cover the collection and management of monitoring data to ensure these topics are not overlooked. Plan ahead to ensure sufficient Sayana Press units are available for training and practice injections Ensuring that sufficient Sayana Press units are available for practice injections is crucial for successful training. During product procurement planning, staff should anticipate the quantity of units needed for training as well as for administering injections to clients. Although several trainings during the pilot introductions used water-filled Uniject injection systems, PATH now recommends using actual Sayana Press units for this purpose. Procuring water-filled devices (e.g., from Becton Dickinson [BD], the Uniject manufacturer) may be expensive and require an additional quantification, procurement, and distribution exercise that can complicate planning. In addition, the saline solution does not have the same appearance and viscosity (thickness) as DMPA, so it must be manipulated carefully to avoid product leakage. Providers will be better prepared to administer injections if they have practiced using the actual product during training. Because some trainers or providers may be hesitant to “waste” actual product while practicing, all should be encouraged to use the product only as many times as needed to achieve competence. INTRODUCTION TIP Given the expense and complication of obtaining placebo units, use actual Sayana Press units for provider and self-injection trainings. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 7 women to self-inject correctly and remember their reinjection dates using reminder tools. To train health providers to counsel and train their clients in Sayana Press self-injection, PATH developed a training module for providers. This lesson takes approximately two hours to facilitate and includes a presentation, participant role-playing, and hands-on practice using a highly visual client instruction booklet (see image). The client self-injection booklet is designed to be used by women as a visual and written memory aid when injecting at home. It is available in English, French, and several national languages spoken in Senegal and Uganda. The booklet is available online at sites.path. org/rh/recent-reproductive-health-projects/ sayanapress/home-and-self-injection-with- sayana-press/. It is part of PATH’s Sayana Press training curriculum, designed for adaptation and integration into family planning provider training programs. In PATH’s self-injection operational feasibility studies in Uganda and Senegal, about 98 percent of women felt that the one-on-one training with practice on a model adequately prepared them to self-inject independently. During the feasibility studies, study nurses trained women using the instruction booklet, evaluated clients’ competence using the checklist during practice injections, and then supervised self-injection. On average, women practiced about three times before self- injecting for the first time. In Uganda, for example, the nurses later followed up with clients to determine whether they could demonstrate correct self-injection technique three months later, and whether they self- injected independently within one week of their scheduled reinjection date. In Uganda, 96 percent of women used the booklet to assist with their independent self-injections and 88 percent demonstrated competent injection technique three months posttraining. A total of 95 percent injected on time, remembering their reinjection date using calendar and reminder tools given to them by the provider. PATH’s current self-injection training module is modeled on this approach. It instructs providers to meet individually with each client to orient her on how to administer an injection and calculate her reinjection date, using the booklet and a calendar. More research and evaluation activities are under way to assess whether it will be feasible to streamline approaches to self-injection and still achieve the key outcomes of injection competence, acceptability, and accessibility for most women. INTRODUCTION TIP Family planning clients required three practice injections on average before achieving mastery in PATH’s self-injection feasibility studies. STEP 7: Gently pinch the skin at the injec on site. • This creates a “tent” for inser� ng the needle. Excerpt from illustrated client self-injection booklet STEP 8: Insert the needle at a downward angle • Con� nue to hold the device by the port and insert the needle straight into the skin at a downward angle. • The port should touch the skin completely to ensure the needle is inserted at the correct depth. STEP 7: Gently pinch the skin at the injec on site. • This creates a “tent” for inser� ng the needle. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 8 THE VALUE OF SUPERVISION AFTER TRAINING During the pilot introductions, not surprisingly, posttraining supervision was as important as initial provider training to ensure high-quality service delivery. In particular, supportive supervision approaches that emphasize teamwork, two-way communication, and skill-building ensured informed choice in counseling and good injection technique, corrected misunderstandings, and supported providers in capturing service delivery data and managing stock. Regular and hands-on supervision was particularly important to provide support in settings like Uganda where many CHWs were offering injectables (and contraception) for the first time. Key learnings from the pilots on supervision included: • Look for efficient approaches to provider supervision, which can be costly: In Uganda and Senegal, PATH staff linked supervision visits with the collection of monitoring data. This strategy conserved resources by allowing staff to both pick up data regularly and follow up with providers. In Burkina Faso and Niger, MOH staff integrated Sayana Press into the existing Correct Sayana Press injection technique entails a few crucial steps PATH’s experience with training across multiple country settings shows that providers and clients with varying levels of education and literacy can be trained to successfully administer Sayana Press. Although the length of training varies based on the trainees’ experience and proficiency, there are five critical injection steps that must be executed for successful administration: 1. Select an appropriate injection site and clean if needed. 2. Mix the liquid by shaking the device vigorously (about 30 seconds). 3. Push the needle cap and port together to activate the device. 4. Pinch the “skin” at the injection site to form a tent. 5. Squeeze the reservoir slowly to inject— taking about 5 to 7 seconds. Steps that have been shown in research to be most prone to error are mixing the solution, activating the device, and pressing the reservoir slowly. All of these steps should be emphasized and practiced during training sessions for all providers and users. For more information, visit sites.path.org/ rh/?p=436#training. Activate the Uniject INTRODUCTION TIP Verify that all Sayana Press providers or self-injectors learn the five critical steps, and ensure that trainers emphasize the importance of activation. Even highly qualified physicians overlook this step if they are not trained well. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 6 9 system of periodic supervision from the region to district and from the districts to facilities. Sayana Press coordinators in both countries periodically joined supervision visits to help reinforce lessons learned from the project. The need for frequent supervision decreases over time. Regular supervision was especially important in the early phase of the pilot effort while dedicated resources were available to solidify provider knowledge and skills. PATH found that it was ideal to start with more intensive joint supervision schedules and then scale back, gradually transitioning to a sustainable system led by the MOH. • Check whether providers are offering women informed choice among a wide range of products. During supervision visits, PATH found that many providers tend to prefer Sayana Press because of its ease of use, so it was important during post- training supervision visits to emphasize that they should promote the full range of methods. Provider bias can affect the method mix being offered to clients. This can sometimes be detected by reviewing monitoring data and examining trends of product uptake, or simply by speaking with providers during supervision visits and reviewing their patient registers. Early on during introduction in Burkina Faso, for example, supervisors found by reviewing data and talking with providers that some incorrectly believed that Sayana Press was being introduced to replace DMPA- IM. Other providers were not including Sayana Press in their counseling because they thought it would only be available for a short time during the “pilot” approach to the introduction. • Include supervisors themselves in initial training. To provide on-the-job training to health workers, supervisors themselves must be well informed and well trained. Most countries elected to invite supervisors to one day of the provider training so that they were informed and could assist in filling out monitoring forms, respond to technical questions such as the reinjection window, and review the status of product stock during site visits. Active involvement of the family planning focal persons (e.g., Uganda) or the reproductive health regional coordinators (e.g., Senegal) during training enabled them to provide continuous supportive supervision for CHWs. In Uganda, for example, PATH staff met with both supervisors (focal persons) and CHWs during visits to reinforce the relationship between the supervisors and supervisees and to facilitate collaborative problem-solving. INTRODUCTION TIP Encourage and support strong linkages between CHWs and health facilities to foster effective communication and collaboration and a team approach to task- sharing between providers at fixed facilities and in communities. PA TH /S iri W oo d S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 7 0 • Start by assessing who needs training on what topics throughout the family planning delivery system. Do not overlook key players such as supervisors or outreach workers who might be women’s first point of contact with the system, even if they cannot administer injections. • For quick product uptake and rollout, implement a simultaneous training cascade. This approach requires strong master trainers who are highly familiar with the product. Using a country’s existing government trainers will increase sustainability. • Design training for community health workers to meet their needs. CHWs in most settings are fully capable of administering Sayana Press in the context of informed choice. Ensure the curriculum covers all family planning content that is unfamiliar to them and meets them where they are, in terms of literacy, knowledge, and geography (to the extent possible). • Informed choice is always a priority in training and supervision, no matter what. Emphasizing that Sayana Press is one option among many is especially important to counteract providers’ (often well-intentioned) excitement about a new product. Sayana Press will not be the right option for all, or even many, women. Address informed choice especially if your training only covers Sayana Press or injectable administration. • Design your curriculum to suit your context. Adapt PATH’s field-tested curriculum as needed, considering whether it should cover Sayana Press or family planning comprehensively; also, consider the data you are expecting providers to collect. • Invest in high-quality supervision. Supervision can help ensure that competencies transferred during group trainings are thoroughly mastered by each individual and that s/he can transfer them to the workplace. Plan for clear expectations about who will conduct supervision, how often, and using what approaches. Consider combining supervision with other activities or integrating it into existing systems. RECOMMENDATIONS: TRAINING AND SUPERVISING PROVIDERS Beyond a project’s life cycle, the long- term capacity of a government to provide ongoing supervision is often unknown. This is particularly true in a setting such as Uganda where the government is considering changing the community health program to include a smaller number of paid health extension workers instead of volunteer CHWs. It is unclear how such evolutions will affect the trajectory of product introduction and mainstreaming. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 7 1 RESOURCES GATHER Guide to Counseling. Available at www.k4health.org/sites/ default/files/j48.pdf. The GATHER model of family planning counseling has been successfully used for nearly two decades, and is based on the elements described in this seminal publication that includes tips, illustrations, techniques, technical information, and charts. Training for Mid-Level Managers (MLM). Module 4: Supportive Supervision. Available at www.who.int/immunization/documents/MLM_ module4.pdf. This resource is part of a World Health Organization series of modules on immunization training. Supportive supervision involves supervisors and health workers working together to solve problems and improve performance. The module outlines key steps and practical implementation strategies. The Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus: A Toolkit for Family Planning Service Providers Working in High HIV/STI Prevalence Settings. Available at www.popcouncil.org/research/the-balanced-counseling-strategy-plus- a-toolkit-for-family-planning-service. This toolkit is comprised of a trainer’s manual, user’s guide, counseling cards, and other clinical-based resources that provide information and materials that health care providers need to offer high-quality family planning counseling to clients living in areas with high rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. 7 2 CREATING DEMAND FOR A NEW CONTRACEPTIVE OPTION Behavior change communication is a process that motivates people to adopt healthy behaviors or lifestyles. Because family planning choices are made in a broader context of social and gender norms, outreach to audiences requires more than just information, education, and communication. Encouraging women to access family planning and building a supportive social and cultural environment are both important components of a communication and demand- generation strategy for product introduction or scale-up. Strong communication, outreach, and awareness-raising about a new product can help to increase the use of modern contraceptives, including Sayana Press. Communication can also foster understanding and dialogue within Generating demand 8 communities, improving trust in health interventions and preventing the spread of misinformation. Communication activities may be broad in scope to encourage women’s access to family planning and social and cultural support. They may also be product-specific and more informational or promotional in nature. Both types of communication are ideal to expand public awareness about Sayana Press as a new contraceptive option and to correct myths and misinformation. Method-specific communication materials can help women continue using their chosen method by explaining normal side effects and responding to frequently asked questions. Many of the behavior change strategies during the pilot introductions focused on PA TH /S iri W oo d The introduction of Sayana® Press (DMPA-SC in Uniject™) promises to expand women’s access to family planning options by increasing opportunities for lower-level health workers and even clients themselves to administer injectable contraceptives. Insights from the first introductions can help inform new country experiences and transitions, whether small pilots or scaled delivery. This section discusses results and lessons learned during introduction pilots in four countries and provides recommendations to guide future efforts by ministries of health and implementing partners related to demand generation. S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 7 3 promoting a lifestyle that involves modern family planning methods as the preferred alternative to traditional practices or nonuse of contraception when women want to delay or space their pregnancies. When materials and messages were specific to Sayana Press, they were integrated into overarching strategies for promoting family planning services in general. When used strategically, mass media such as radio and TV programming can reach large numbers of people with crucial information and persuasive messages. Interactive communication approaches such as home visits, community theater, and group discussions can foster dialogue within communities to influence social norms, garner support from trusted and influential leaders, and pave the way for broader family planning access. Interactive approaches in particular allow messages and information to be tailored to the specific needs of the end user. Overall, the Sayana Press introduction project did not have an extensive budget to support communication and demand-generation activities in the pilot countries. Each country set its own communications goals and objectives for introduction and determined how best to achieve its goals. PATH found that it was most useful for each communications partner agency to assess its programs and decide what methods and channels would be most effective for the country context. A range of examples illustrates how demand-generation work played out during the pilot introductions. In Burkina Faso, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) received funding to implement extensive communications activities to generate demand for family planning services and increase awareness of Sayana Press in the pilot regions (see box). Similarly, in Uganda, PATH contracted CDFU INTRODUCTION TIP Frequent radio spots were associated with relatively high levels of new family planning users seeking Sayana Press in Niger and Uganda. Creating demand in Burkina Faso: GIZ During the first two years of Sayana Press introductions, GIZ led a project to develop and implement multifaceted mass media and interpersonal communication activities across the four pilot regions to generate demand for the product. Key highlights of the project’s communications campaign include: • Conducted 38,511 educational group discussions, estimated to have reached nearly a million people. • Organized 1,083 film viewings, 387 interactive theater presentations, and 12,609 home visits, which together reached more than 320,600 people. • Broadcast 4,312 radio and 860 TV spots, reaching nearly 4 million listeners and viewers. GIZ’s project also built the capacity of local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) implementing family planning advocacy and education activities through intense training and supervision. The project materials included messages targeting men as key supporters of family planning and highlighted referral systems so community members would know where and how to access services. CASE STUDY PA TH /S iri W oo d S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 7 4 to implement a comprehensive campaign in a selection of the pilot districts (see box on page 75). PATH and partners in all countries used a mixture of mass media and interpersonal communication strategies, and targeted different audience segments. In many countries, it is not permitted by law to do brand-specific promotion of pharmaceutical products using mass media. Determining what types of product promotion are allowed in each country was challenging. In Niger, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) worked with district Ministry of Health officials to determine how to mention Sayana Press in radio campaigns as one of the family planning options available to women at local health posts. This was acceptable to the government partners because it was not simply brand promotion, and the campaigns were in limited pilot areas. In Senegal, PATH and other NGOs that implement family planning benefitted from a national family planning campaign with the slogan Moytu Nef, which translates to “avoid closely spaced births.” COMMUNICATIONS GUIDANCE FOR SAYANA PRESS PARTNERS PATH developed a comprehensive guidance document to support implementing partners as they developed communications strategies and activities related to the introduction of Sayana Press. Communications Guidance for Introducing Sayana® Press was published in 2014. Available in French and English at http://sites.path.org/rh/?p=436. It is based on a comprehensive review of the literature on communications and behavior change strategies to increase use of family planning methods, with an emphasis on injectable contraceptives and the four pilot countries. The guidance document provides background information on Sayana Press and the pilot introduction efforts and outlines communication strategies, audiences, and key messages recommended for successful introduction. It also recommends the use of specific communication channels based on previous success. GIZ used the document as a foundation for its behavior change communications strategy for Sayana Press introduction in Burkina Faso. Likewise, CDFU used the document to guide behavior change activities in support of introduction. The document’s suggestions include focusing on “My wife and I made the decision to use family planning because it was difficult for me to provide basic needs to my children like education, clothing, and food. One day, my wife and I were listening to the radio and we heard a radio spot about Sayana Press on Divine FM. The spot said it’s easy and safe to use, and they referred people to the nearest VHT. We went to see him, and he gave us more information and counseling on Sayana Press. My wife made up her mind, and she started using it.” – Husband of Sayana Press client in Uganda S AYA N A® P R E S S I N T R O D U C T I O N : P R A C T I C A L G U I D A N C E F R O M PAT H 7 5 CASE STUDY PA TH /S iri W oo d Multiple-channel communication campaign on Sayana Press in Uganda In Uganda, Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) helped to raise awareness of family planning and the new option of Sayana Press in selected pilot introduction districts. Their strategy was designed to help increase knowledge of the availability of injectable contraceptives from Village Health Teams (VHTs). CDFU implemented a wide variety of communication activities between 2014 and 2016, including: • Held provider trainings on VHTs’ role in education and outreach, beyond just contraceptive service provision. • Trained existing family planning hotline counselors to answer questions about Sayana Press. • Conducted more than 150 community dialogues on contraception, Sayana Press, and myths and misconceptions, reaching over 3,000 people. • Broadcast 42 interactive radio talk shows and 4,680 radio spots. • Produced and distributed more than 2,000 posters for health facilities/communities and 5,000 leaflets targeted to opinion leaders. • Conducted an endline evaluation of their communication campaign. What worked? Community members, including women using Sayana Press, were most likely to report hearing about the new product from radio or VHTs. As one young woman in Apac District reported, “I started using Sayana Press after hearing about it from Voice of Lango FM. I have used it for nine months now.” At the same time, VHTs clearly played a critical role. Another youth in Kyegegwa District shared, “The VHTs have made tremendous efforts to meet people in their youth groups during meetings, and sometimes having a one-on-one session to talk about family planning.” Although it is resource-intensive to reach large numbers of people through a community dialogue strategy, it is possible that these activities helped prevent major opposition to the new option or to contraception training for VHTs. The community dialogues were a key mechanism, for example, for engaging men and religious leaders and fostering exchange about their role in supporting family planning. CDFU’s hotline received between 81 and 326 calls about contraception per quarter, and the number of questions about Sayana Press varied. Interestingly, most calls were from men. In some cases, VHTs themselves—who were trained to publicize the hotline to their clients—used the hotline as an information resource. Consumption of Sayana Press increased steadily throughout the pilot introduction period. It is difficult to assess the contributions

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