Ipas Initiatives for Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Bangladesh
Ipas, founded in 1973 in North Carolina, USA, operates globally to promote reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception. In 2011, Ipas began operations in Bangladesh, collaborating with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM), NGOs, donors, and stakeholders for strengthening the health system.
Core Values and Strategic Priorities
Initially focusing on menstrual regulation (MR), postabortion care (PAC), and family planning (FP) services, our efforts have evolved to advocate for institutionalized sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. We support access to sexual and reproductive health and rights through the following Strategic Priorities:
- Innovation
- Health System Strengthening
- Advocacy
- Technical Assistance
- Community Awareness and Social Support
- Humanitarian Support
- Research and Evidence Generation
Assessment of Ipas Initiatives in Family Planning and Menstrual Regulation
According to the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), Menstrual Regulation (MR) is a procedure to regulate the menstrual cycle when menstruation is absent for a short duration; it is performed in a health care facility by a trained service provider within a set number of weeks since a woman’s last menstrual period.
To strengthen these services, Ipas implemented a project titled “Family Planning in Bangladesh: Improving Quality and Access” briefly called QFP (Quality Family Planning) Project. The project activities were implemented during October 2016 – July 2021. This study assessed the contribution of QFP project to promote LARC and PM in Ipas intervention facilities in Bangladesh to identify the enablers and/or hinders in uptake of LARC and PM. With an aim to reduce the unmet need for contraceptives in Bangladesh and to deliver PPFP and PAFP services to women with a special focus on promoting LARC and PM, Ipas implemented QFP project from October 2016 to July 2021.
Innovation and Digital Health Services
The ISRHR’D project has introduced the OGSB Call Center, launched in May 2023, as a step forward in digital health services. Offering free consultations, this initiative aims to bridge the socio-economic divide and ensure equitable access to SRHR services for underserved urban populations.
Humanitarian Crisis Zones: Rohingya Refugee Response
With the goal of identifying effective ways to provide support and strategies for women and girls experiencing these issues, Ipas Bangladesh led an innovative study in the sprawling Rohingya refugee camps located in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh in collaboration with the Center on Gender Equity and Health at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). This evaluation report details the 2022 performance evaluation of the “Humanitarian Response Program” implemented in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh by Ipas.
As part of these efforts, two major studies were conducted regarding Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) in Bangladesh:
- The qualitative study: “Exploring Availability, Acceptability, Misconceptions, Myths and Social Barriers Related to Family Planning, Menstrual Regulation, and Post Abortion Care Services Among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN).”
- The quantitative study: “Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Sources of Information about Family Planning, Menstrual Regulation, and Post Abortion Care Services Among Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals’ (FDMN).”
Community Awareness and Social Support
This flipchart, used by mid-level service providers, promotes interactive, client-centered communication in the Rohingya community. Covering key areas such as MR, Postabortion Care (PAC), SGBV, and post-MR family planning, the flipchart promotes interactive, client-centered communication. It helps correct misconceptions and fosters informed decision-making among women of reproductive age.
Summary of Key Programmatic Data
The following highlights the scope and duration of major Ipas initiatives in Bangladesh:
- QFP Project: Implemented from October 2016 to July 2021; focused on LARC, PM, MR, and PAC services.
- OGSB Call Center: Launched in May 2023; provides free digital consultations for urban populations.
- Humanitarian Response Program: 2022 performance evaluation; focused on Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.