Under the Institute's current FAM Project with USAID, IRH is assessing and documenting the process and effects of large-scale integration of FAM in family planning and reproductive health systems in selected countries. The research agenda, which builds on the accomplishments of earlier projects and is guided by the ExpandNet model, addresses questions related to the integration of FAM in selected countries (see ExpandNet/WHO guide, "Practical Guidance for Scaling-up Health Services Innovations" here).

The research objectives include:

• Examine and document the process of integrating SDM and establishing LAM in selected countries;
• Test strategies and provide evidence to support the integration of SDM and LAM into family planning and reproductive health programs;
• Test new, innovative strategies (e.g. application of SDM carnet, commercial approaches to SDM introduction, self-study approaches for provider training, etc) for horizontal integration of SDM;
• Test acceptability and effectiveness of expanding SDM through media (cell phone/text messaging, radio, diffusion through user networks, etc.);
• Assess the effect on increasing FAM use and continuation of providing both SDM and TDM in selected sites.

Publications

• Monitoring & Evaluating Scale-Up: Doing it Right for Sustainable Impact, FAM Project ENG