Strategic Approach for Reproductive Health Programme Development
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The Special Programme on Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Reproductive Health and Research Department (RHR) of World Health Organization (WHO) has provided support to ICOMP since 1994 for a regional project in Asia to promote strategies and strengthen institutional capability to implement the strategic approach for RH programme development.

The Strategic Approach methodology was initially developed for introduction of new or currently underutilised fertility regulation technologies. Subsequently it was applied for improving quality of care (QOC) and development of RH programmes. It comprises three stages: strategic assessment, research, and use of research (see box).

ICOMP provided technical assistance for Contraceptive Method-Mix Assessment in Vietnam (1994) and Myanmar (1996) and for RH programme development in Myanmar (1998) with UNFPA support, and in Laos (1999) with WHO support. Follow-on activities included the Introduction of Depo-Provera (DMPA) while improving QOC for all methods in Vietnam (1996-2000).

In 2000-2004, ICOMP, in collaboration with the Bangkok office of the Population Council, field-tested and refined the methodology for strategic assessment. The field tests were carried out in Yunnan, China and Rajasthan, India.

ICOMP organised the Asia Regional Training Workshop on the Strategic Approach for Reproductive Health Programme Development in Yunan, China, in 2002.

Strategic assessment
in Rajasthan, India