In Cote d’Ivoire, R4S is engaged in three activities: 1) a study on provider bias for Adolescent Responsive Contraceptive Services (ARCS), 2) assessment of a digital, client-facing Counseling for Choice (C4C) tool, and 3) support for the development of an FP research and learning agenda. These activities are part of two R4S portfolios below and a cross cutting activity.
Self-Care Portfolio
R4S’ Self-Care Portfolio includes activities aimed at deepening understanding of self-care through a people-centered approach. Countries increasingly seek to integrate self-care into FP policies and programs. But there is little evidence available to create an enabling environment for self-care programming, despite the growing appreciation that self-care is a culturally relative concept. R4S has designed and implemented studies to capture attitudes, preferences and intentions regarding FP self-care from women, men and providers.
1. This study on provider bias for Adolescent Responsive Contraceptive Services (ARCS), aims to facilitate the implementation of the ARCS HIP by focusing on Service Delivery and the Health Workforce. This study started in FY23, and concept development is in progress.
Digital Portfolio
This portfolio of activities under R4S seeks to generate and apply evidence about how digital technologies can support FP self-care by increasing knowledge, self-efficacy, and/or FP uptake and continuation in the context of informed choice. The focus is on digital FP self-care platforms that offer a constellation of options including information, decision-making tools and links to services, with the goal of understanding how these three dimensions can be optimized to improve the users’ experience.
2. This study was conducted in partnership with PSI to generate evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of using an interactive client-facing digital FP counseling chatbot tool, Counseling for Choice (C4C), among women and girls. The chatbot provides information about contraceptive methods and the menstrual cycle. The study revealed that the method recommendations branch of the chatbot was popular among users, who found it easy to use, with relevant trustworthy information. It appeared to increase users’ reported FP related self-efficacy and confidence. Interest in other FP self-care options was common among the chatbot users, indicating an opportunity to increase awareness and demand for FP self-care. The study was completed in early 2023. See this Infogram for more information.
Country FP Research and Learning Agendas
This activity supports countries to develop FP research and learning agendas (FPRLAs) that will help them meet their national FP program goals. It also helps to identify research questions that R4S can answer and programmatic and policy areas for which R4S can help produce, synthesize, or apply evidence to improve outcomes.
3. Consultations to develop the FP RLA for Cote d’Ivoire took place in February and March 2021. The multi-phase process involved the review and analysis of data, consultation with local experts, and convening stakeholders to define concrete questions to guide family planning research and ultimately programming. Cote d’Ivoire’s FPRLA was officially signed by the MOH in late April 2022, and disseminated nationally in July 2022, followed by continued dissemination through various channels. Details about the process, country context, and main takeaways is found here: FP Research and Learning Agendas, and summarized in this blog: Towards 2030 and Beyond.
