Any better? A follow-up content analysis of adolescent sexual and reproductive health inclusion in Global Financing Facility country planning documents.

BACKGROUND: The Global Financing Facility (GFF) supports national reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition needs. Previous analysis examined how adolescent sexual and reproductive health was represented in GFF national planning documents for 11 GFF partner countries. OBJECTIVES: This paper furthers that analysis for 16 GFF partner countries as part of a Special Series. METHODS: Content analysis was conducted on publicly available GFF planning documents for Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, CAR, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Vietnam. Analysis considered adolescent health content (mindset), indicators (measure) and funding (money) relative to adolescent sexual and reproductive health needs, using a tracer indicator. RESULTS:  Countries with higher rates of adolescent pregnancy had more content relating to adolescent reproductive health, with exceptions in fragile contexts. Investment cases had more adolescent content than project appraisal documents. Content gradually weakened from mindset to measures to money. Related conditions, such as fistula, abortion, and mental health, were insufficiently addressed. Documents from Burkina Faso and Malawi demonstrated it is possible to include adolescent programming even within a context of shifting or selective priorities. CONCLUSION: Tracing prioritisation and translation of commitments into plans provides a foundation for discussing global funding for adolescents. We highlight positive aspects of programming and areas for strengthening and suggest broadening the perspective of adolescent health beyond the reproductive health to encompass issues, such as mental health. This paper forms part of a growing body of accountability literature, supporting advocacy work for adolescent programming and funding.

Main findings: Adolescent health content is inconsistently included in the Global Financing Facility country documents, and despite strong or positive examples, the content is stronger in investment cases than project appraisal documents, and diminishes when comparing content, indicators and financing.Added knowledge: Although adolescent health content is generally strongest in countries with the highest proportion of births before age 18, there are exceptions in fragile contexts and gaps in addressing important issues related to adolescent health.Global health impact for policy and action: Adolescent health programming supported by the Global Financing Facility should build on examples of strong country plans, be more consistent in addressing adolescent health, and be accompanied by public transparency to facilitate accountability work such as this.

FERTILTY CARE IN LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIES: Fertility care in low- and middle-income countries.

Infertility affects millions worldwide, with significant medical, financial, and emotional challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cultural, religious, financial, and gender-related barriers hinder access to treatment, exacerbating social and economic consequences, especially for women. Despite its prevalence, infertility often remains overlooked due to competing health priorities. However, global initiatives recognise infertility as a reproductive health concern, advocating for universal access to high-quality fertility care. In LMICs, limited resources and infrastructure impede access to treatment, prompting people to turn to alternative, often ineffective, non-biomedical solutions. Addressing these challenges requires implementing affordable fertility care services tailored to local contexts, supported by political commitment and community engagement. Emerging technologies offer promising solutions, but comprehensive education and training programs are essential for their effective implementation. By integrating fertility care into broader health policies and fostering partnerships, we can ensure equitable access to infertility treatment and support reproductive health worldwide.

Achieving universal reproductive health coverage for deaf women in Ghana: an explanatory study of knowledge of contraceptive methods, pregnancy and safe abortion practices.

BACKGROUND: The first world conference on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in 1994 helped create the awareness that reproductive health is a human right. Over the years, attempts have been made to extend services to all persons; however, lapses persist in service provision for all in need. Recently, countries have been encouraged to target minority groups in their reproductive health service provision. However, studies have rarely attempted to develop deeper insights into the experiences of deaf men and women regarding their knowledge of SRH. The purpose of this study was to develop an in-depth understanding of the knowledge of deaf persons regarding services such as knowledge of contraceptive methods, pregnancy and safe abortion practices. METHODS: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach was adopted for this study. In the first quantitative phase, 288 deaf persons recruited from three out of the 16 regions in Ghana participated in this study. They completed a 31-item questionnaire on the main issues (knowledge of contraceptive methods, pregnancy and safe abortion practices) addressed in this study. In the second phase, a semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from 60 participants who took part in the first phase. The key trend emerging in the first phase underpinned the interview guide used for the data collection. While the quantitative data were subjected to the computation of means, t-tests, analyses of variance, correlations and linear regressions to understand the predictors, the in-depth interviews were analysed using the thematic method of analysis. RESULTS: The results showed a convergence between the quantitative and qualitative data. For instance, the interview material supported the initial findings that deaf women had little knowledge of contraceptive methods. The participants offered reasons explaining their inability to access services and the role of religion in their understanding of SRH. CONCLUSION: The study concludes by calling on policymakers to consider the needs of deaf persons in future SRH policies. The study limitations and other implications for future policymaking are discussed.

"The Back-up Vasectomy Reversal." Simultaneous Sperm Retrieval and Vasectomy Reversal in the Couple With Advanced Maternal Age: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness of different fertility options in men who have undergone vasectomy in couples with a female of advanced maternal age (AMA). The options include vasectomy reversal (VR), sperm retrieval (SR) with in vitro fertilization (IVF), and the combination of VR and SR with IVF, which is a treatment pathway that has been understudied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using TreeAge software, a model-based cost-utility analysis was performed estimating the cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) in couples with infertility due to vasectomy and advanced female age over a period of one year. The model stratified for female age (35-37, 38-40, >40) and evaluated four strategies: VR followed by natural conception (NC), SR with IVF, VR and SR followed by failed NC and then IVF, and VR and SR followed by failed IVF and then NC. QALY estimates and outcome probabilities were obtained from the literature and average patient charges were calculated from high-volume centers. RESULTS: The most cost-effective fertility strategy was to undergo VR and try for NC (cost-per-QALY: $7,150 (35-37 y), $7,203 (38-40 y), and $7,367 (>40 y)). The second most cost-effective strategy was the "back-up vasectomy reversal": undergo VR and SR, attempt IVF and switch to NC if IVF fails. CONCLUSION: In couples with a history of vasectomy and female of AMA, it is most cost-effective to undergo a VR. If the couple opts for SR for IVF, it is more cost-effective to undergo a concomitant VR than SR alone.

Association of the National Dependent Coverage Expansion With Insurance Use for Sexual and Reproductive Health Services by Female Young Adults.

Importance: Sexual and reproductive health services are a primary reason for care seeking by female young adults, but the association of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Expansion (ACA-DCE) with insurance use for these services has not been studied to our knowledge. Insurer billing practices may compromise dependent confidentiality, potentially discouraging dependents from using insurance or obtaining care. Objective: To evaluate the association between implementation of ACA-DCE and insurance use for confidential sexual and reproductive health services by female young adults newly eligible for parental coverage. Design, Setting, and Participants: For this cross-sectional study, a difference-in-differences analysis of a US national sample of commercial claims from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2009, and January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2016, captured insurance use before and after policy implementation among female young adults aged 23 to 25 years (treatment group) who were eligible for dependent coverage compared with those aged 27 to 29 years (comparison group) who were ineligible for dependent coverage. Data were analyzed from January 2019 to February 2020. Exposures: Eligibility for parental coverage under the ACA-DCE as of 2010. Main Outcomes and Measures: Probability of insurance use for contraception and Papanicolaou testing. Emergency department and well visits were included as control outcomes not sensitive to confidentiality concerns. Linear probability models adjusted for age, plan type, annual deductible, comorbidities, and state and year fixed effects, with SEs clustered at the state level. Results: The study sample included 4 690 699 individuals (7 268 372 person-years), with 2 898 275 in the treatment group (mean [SD] age, 23.7 [0.8] years) and 1 792 424 in the comparison group (mean [SD] age; 27.9 [0.8] years). Enrollees in the treatment group were less likely to have a comorbidity (77.3% vs 72.9%) and more likely to have a high deductible plan (14.6% vs 10.1%) than enrollees in the comparison group. Implementation of the ACA-DCE was associated with a -2.9 (95% CI, -3.4 to -2.4) percentage point relative reduction in insurance use for contraception and a -3.4 (95% CI, -3.9 to -3.0) percentage point relative reduction in Papanicolaou testing in the treatment vs comparison groups. Emergency department and well visits increased 0.4 (95% CI, 0.2-0.7) and 1.7 (95% CI, 1.3-2.1) percentage points, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings suggest that implementation of the ACA-DCE was associated with a reduction in insurance use for sexual and reproductive health services and an increase in emergency department and well health visits by female young adults newly eligible for parental coverage. Some young people who gained coverage under the expansion may not be using essential, confidential services.

The inclusion of sexual and reproductive health services within universal health care through intentional design.

In this paper, we argue that how sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are included in UHC and health financing matters, and that this has implications for universality and equity. This is a matter of rights, given the differential health risks that women face, including unwanted pregnancy. How traditional vertical SRH services are compensated under UHC also matters and should balance incentives for efficiency with incentives for appropriate provision using the rights-based approach to user-centred care so that risks of sub-optimal outcomes are mitigated. This suggests that as UHC benefits packages are designed, there is need for the SRH community to advocate for more than simple "SRH inclusion". This paper describes a practical approach to integrate quality of SRH care within the UHC agenda using a framework called the "5Ps". The framework emphasises a "systems" and "design" lens as important steps to quality. The framework can be applied at different scales, from the health system to the individual user level. It also pays attention to how financing and resource policies intended to promote UHC may support or undermine the respect, protection and fulfilment of SRH and rights. The framework was originally developed with a specific emphasis on quality provision of family planning. In this paper, we have extended it to cover other SRH services.

The Global Gag Rule: The death trap for comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare and way to overcome the US gag rule.

The United States of America (USA) is one of the largest bilateral donors in the field of global health assistance. There are beneficiaries in 70 countries around the world. In 2015, the USA released US$638 million for the improvement of global health status by promoting family planning services. Unfortunately, in 2017, Trump administration reinstated Mexico City Policy/Global Gag Rule (GGR). This policy prevents non-US nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from receiving US health financial assistance if they have any relationship with abortion-related services. This restriction pushed millions of lives into great danger due to the lack of comprehensive family planning services, especially lack of abortion-related services. This article has attempted to let the readers know about the impacts of GGR around the world and how global leaders are trying to overcome the harmful effects of this rule. Finally, it proposes some solutions to the impacts of the extension of Mexico City Policy.

Budgeting for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights under universal health coverage.

Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) requires informed budgeting that is aligned with UHC objectives. We draw data from Adding It Up 2019 (AIU-2019) to provide critical new country-level and regional, intervention-specific costs for the provision of SRH services. AIU-2019 is a cost-outcomes analysis, undertaken from the health system perspective, which estimates the costs and impacts of offering SRH care in low- and middle-income countries. We present direct cost estimates for 109 SRH interventions and find that human resources comprise the largest category of direct SRH service costs and that the most expensive services in the model are largely preventable. We use scenario analysis to explore the synergistic costs and impacts of providing SRH interventions in clusters, focussing on chlamydia and gonorrhoea treatment, provision of safe abortion and post-abortion care services, and safe childbirth services. When costs are considered for the preventive and impacted services in these three clusters, there are cost savings for some of the impacted services in the packages and for the abortion-related package overall. The direct cost estimates from our analysis can be used to guide UHC budgeting and planning efforts. Having these cost estimates and understanding the potential for cost savings when providing comprehensive SRH services are critical for efforts to fulfil the rights and needs of all individuals, including the most marginalised, to access this essential care.

Sexual and reproductive health services in universal health coverage: a review of recent evidence from low- and middle-income countries.

If universal health coverage (UHC) cannot be achieved without the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of the population being met, what then is the current situation vis-à-vis universal coverage of SRH services, and the extent to which SRH services have been prioritised in national UHC plans and processes? This was the central question that guided this critical review of more than 200 publications between 2010 and 2019. The findings are the following. The Essential Package of Healthcare Services (EPHS) across many countries excludes several critical SRH services (e.g. safe abortion services, reproductive cancers) that are already poorly available. Inadequate international and domestic public funding of SRH services contributes to a sustained burden of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and inequities in access to SRH services. Policy and legal barriers, restrictive gender norms and gender-based inequalities challenge the delivery and access to quality SRH services. The evidence is mixed as to whether an expanded role and scope of the private sector improves availability and access to services of underserved populations. As momentum gathers towards SRH and UHC, the following actions are necessary and urgent. Advocacy for greater priority for SRH in government EPHS and health budgets aligned with SRH and UHC goals is needed. Implementation of stable and sustained financing mechanisms that would reduce the proportion of SRH-financing from OOPE is a priority. Evidence, moving from descriptive towards explanatory studies which provide insights into the "hows" and "whys" of processes and pathways are essential for guiding policy and programme actions.

Evaluation, Treatment, and Insurance Coverage for Couples With Male Factor Infertility in the US: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Survey Data.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the evaluation, treatment, and insurance coverage among couples with male factor infertility in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 969 couples undergoing fertility treatment with a diagnosis of male factor infertility were identified from an online survey. The proportion of men that were seen/not seen by a male were compared. Insurance coverage related to male factor was also assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 98.0% of the men reported at least one abnormal semen parameter. Of these, 72.0% were referred to a male fertility specialist with the majority being referred by the gynecologist of their female partner. As part of the male evaluation, 72.2% had blood hormone testing. Of the 248 men who were not recommended to see a male fertility specialist, 96.0% had an abnormal semen analysis including 7.6% who had azoospermia. Referral to a male fertility specialist was largely driven by severity of male factor infertility rather than socioeconomic status. Insurance coverage related to male factor infertility was poor with low coverage for sperm extractions (72.9% reported 0-25% coverage) and sperm freezing (83.7% reported 0-25% coverage). CONCLUSION: Although this cohort includes couples with abnormal semen parameters, 28% of the men were not evaluated by a male fertility specialist. In addition, insurance coverage for services related to male factor was low. These findings may be of concern as insufficient evaluation and coverage of the infertile man could lead to missed opportunities for identifying reversible causes of infertility/medical comorbidities and places an unfair burden on the female partner.

The effect of a no-cost contraceptive initiative on method selection by women with housing insecurity.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the sociodemographic characteristics of participants in a contraceptive initiative by housing security and determine the association between housing insecurity on contraceptive method selection before and after the removal of cost. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional assessment includes 4,327 reproductive-aged participants in the HER Salt Lake Contraceptive Initiative who sought new contraceptive services and reported housing status at enrollment. HER Salt Lake prospectively explored the impact of improved contraceptive access on socioeconomic outcomes in Salt Lake County (USA). For six months (September 2015-March 2016) we collected control data, which included clinic standard-of-care cost-sharing. The intervention started March 2016, and provided no-cost contraception services and unlimited opportunities for method switching over the subsequent three years. RESULTS: There were 964 (22%) housing-insecure participants. Compared to those with stable housing, housing-insecure individuals more commonly identified as a sexual minority, received public assistance and lacked health insurance. Housing-insecure women preferentially selected long-acting reversible contraception during the control period (aOR 1.60; 95%CI 1.01-2.56), but method selection equalized across housing status during the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: When cost is not a barrier, all women desire a comprehensive selection of contraceptive methods, regardless of housing security. Contraceptive clients in this vulnerable population need interventions which address access barriers to all methods to support reproductive planning. IMPLICATIONS: Unintended pregnancy during housing insecurity may result in homelessness. This study found housing-insecure women desire access to all contraceptive methods, not just long acting reversible contraception. Integration of comprehensive family planning initiatives into efforts to address homelessness is essential to support this vulnerable population in their reproductive planning.

Evaluating the effect of Medicaid expansion on access to preventive reproductive care for women in Oregon.

We evaluated the effect of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion on receipt of preventive reproductive services for women in Oregon. First, we compared service receipt among continuing Medicaid enrollees pre- and post-ACA. We then compared receipt among new post-ACA Medicaid enrollees to receipt by continuing enrollees after ACA implementation. Using Medicaid enrollment and claims data, we identified well-woman visits, contraceptive counseling, contraceptive services, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, and cervical cancer screening among women ages 15-44 in years when not pregnant. For pre-ACA enrollees, we assessed pre-ACA receipt in 2011-2013 (n = 83,719) and post-ACA receipt in 2014-2016 (n = 103,225). For post-ACA enrollees we similarly assessed post-ACA service receipt (n = 73,945) and compared this to service receipt by pre-ACA enrollees during 2014-2016. We estimated logistic regression models to compare service receipt over time and between enrollment groups. Among pre-ACA enrollees we found lower receipt of all services post-ACA. Adjusted declines ranged from 7.0 percentage points (95% CI: -7.5, -6.4) for cervical cancer screening to 0.4 percentage points [-0.6, -0.2] for STI screening. In 2014-2016, post-ACA enrollees differed significantly from pre-ACA enrollees in receipt of all services, but all differences were <2 percentage points. Despite small declines in receipt of several preventive reproductive services among prior enrollees, the ACA resulted in Medicaid financing of these services for a large number of newly enrolled low-income women in Oregon, which may eventually lead to population-level improvements in reproductive health. These findings among women in Oregon could inform Medicaid coverage efforts in other states.

Women's costs for accessing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services: findings from an observational study in Johannesburg, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal of universal access to sexual and reproductive (SRH) services requires an understanding of the health needs of individuals and what constitutes access to services. We explored women's costs of accessing SRH services in Johannesburg, South Africa and contextualized costs based on estimates of household income. METHODS: We conducted an observational study of women aged 18-49 at a public HIV treatment site and two public primary health care facilities from June 2015 to August 2016. Interviews assessed women's SRH needs (for contraception, fertility problems, menstrual problems, menopause symptoms, sexually transmitted infections (STI), experiences of intimate-partner violence (IPV), and cervical and breast cancer screening) and associated costs. We calculated average and total costs (including out-of-pocket spending, lost income, and estimated value of time spent) for women who incurred costs. We also estimated the total and average costs of meeting all SRH needs in a hypothetical "full needs met" year. Finally, we contextualize SRH spending against a measure of catastrophic expenditure (> 10% of household income). RESULTS: Among the 385 women who participated, 94.8% had at least one SRH need in the prior 12 months; 79.7% incurred costs for accessing care. On average, women spent $28.34 on SRH needs during the prior year. Excluding one HIV-negative woman who spent 112% of her annual income on infertility treatment, HIV-positive women spent more on average annually for SRH care than HIV-negative women. Sixty percent of women reported at least one unmet SRH need. If all participants sought care for all reported needs, their average annual cost would rise to $52.65 per woman. Only two women reported catastrophic expenditure - for managing infertility. CONCLUSIONS: SRH needs are constants throughout women's lives. Small annual costs can become large costs when considered cumulatively over time. As South Africa and other countries grapple with increasing access to SRH services under the rubric of universal access, it is important to remember that individuals incur costs despite free care at the point of service. Policies that address geographic proximity and service quality would be important for reducing costs and ensuring full access to SRH services. Literature on women's financial and economic costs for accessing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care in low- and middle-income countries is extremely limited, and existing literature often overlooks out-of-pocket costs associated with travel, child care, and time spent accessing services. Using data from a survey of 385 women from a public HIV treatment site and two public primary health care facilities in Johannesburg, we found nearly all women reported at least on sexual and reproductive health need and more than 75% of women incurred costs related to those needs. Furthermore, more than half of women surveyed reported not accessing services for their sexual and reproductive health needs, suggesting a total annual cost of more than $50 USD, on average, to access services for all reported needs. While few women spent more than 10% of their total household income on sexual and reproductive health services in the prior year, needs are constant and costs incur throughout a woman's life suggesting accessing services to meet these needs might still result in financial burden. As South Africa grapples with increasing access to sexual and reproductive health services under the rubric of universal access, it is important to remember that individuals incur costs despite free care at the point of service. Policies that address geographic proximity and service quality would be important for reducing costs and ensuring full access to services.

Enablers and barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health services among visually impaired women in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana.

The need to improve the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights of women with disabilities is increasingly acknowledged. Unfortunately, women with disabilities in low- and middle-income settings, including Ghana, face several barriers (including structural, financial, physical, social and attitudinal) to accessing SRH services and care. This paper explores the enablers and barriers to accessing SRH services and care among visually impaired women in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana. Qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were collected from 21 visually impaired women, selected through purposive and snowballing sampling techniques. Thematic analysis was used to develop codes, and data were further grouped into emerging themes. The barriers to accessing SRH services and care were financial difficulties and lack of preferential treatment. The enablers which facilitated access to SRH services and care were the support provided by caregivers and friendly relationships with health providers. To address these challenges and promote access, SRH related policies, services and programmes should be inclusive of the needs of visually impaired women, and measures to remove financial challenges to service utilisation and foster positive relationships with health workers, church and community members should be adopted.

Understanding the use of India's National Health Insurance Scheme for family planning and reproductive health services in Uttar Pradesh.

India's National Health Insurance Scheme, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), expands health services to families living below the poverty line by enrolling them into the scheme through selected health facilities. Use and reasons for nonuse of RSBY for family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH) services have not been explored previously. This cross-sectional study explored the use of RSBY for FP/RH services at private health facilities, knowledge of FP/RH service availability, and factors influencing knowledge among RSBY enrolled families. A total of 726 women and 640 men from enrolled families living in 3 cities of Uttar Pradesh, India, were interviewed. Use of FP/RH services at private hospitals enrolled in the RSBY was 2%. Nearly 20% of respondents used FP or delivery services from unenrolled private hospitals but could have accessed these services through the scheme. Over 75% of respondents were unaware of FP/RH service availability through RSBY. Respondents with some education were more likely to have this knowledge, while poorer families were less likely to have this knowledge. Findings suggest that for RSBY to reach the most vulnerable families, efforts need to be made to better educate enrolled families about their entitlements and benefits of the scheme.