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), and Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM), for strengthening the health system. 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.

Our Core Values and Strategic Priorities

We support access to sexual and reproductive health and rights through various strategic priorities. These include:

• Innovation and Health System Strengthening
• Advocacy and Technical Assistance
• Community Awareness and Social Support
• Humanitarian Support and Research and Evidence Generation

Quality Family Planning (QFP) Project Assessment

Ipas implemented a project titled “Family Planning in Bangladesh: Improving Quality and Access,” briefly called the QFP (Quality Family Planning) Project. The project activities were implemented during October 2016 – July 2021. With an aim to reduce the unmet need for contraceptives in Bangladesh and to deliver PPFP and PAFP services to women, Ipas implemented the QFP project with a special focus on promoting LARC and PM. This study assessed the contribution of the QFP project to promote LARC and PM in Ipas intervention facilities in Bangladesh to identify the enablers and/or hinders in the uptake of LARC and PM. Furthermore, the study aimed to assess the progress towards institutionalization of FP, MR, and PAC services in the Director General Health Service (DGHS) system.

Humanitarian Response in Rohingya Refugee Camps

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. To assist service delivery, a 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, it helps correct misconceptions and fosters informed decision-making among women of reproductive age.

Digital Health and Urban SRHR 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. This effort is vital because, 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, and it must be performed in a health care facility by a trained service provider.

Summary of Key Ipas Projects and Timelines

• Quality Family Planning (QFP) Project: Implemented from October 2016 to July 2021, focusing on LARC, PM, and service institutionalization.
• Humanitarian Response Program: Performance evaluation conducted in 2022 within Cox’s Bazar refugee camps.
• OGSB Call Center: Launched in May 2023 to provide digital health access for urban populations.
• ARCHES Study: Conducted in humanitarian settings to improve reproductive autonomy among women and girls.