Long-Acting and Permanent Methods

In much of the developing world, individuals and couples do not have access to the full range of contraceptive options that they should have. Long-acting and permanent methods of contraception are particularly underutilized.

Long-acting and permanent methods are by far the most effective types of modern contraception (with success rates of 99% or higher) and are very safe, convenient, and cost-effective in the long-run. These methods include intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, female sterilization (such as tubal ligation), and male sterilization (vasectomy). They are all clinical methods and must be provided in health facilities by trained doctors, nurses, and/or midwives.

With our global expertise in improving the quality of family planning programs, EngenderHealth is bringing as many options as possible to those choosing a family planning method. We are partnering with governments and communities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to promote long-acting and permanent methods, which are resulting in significant achievements. In Tanzania, for example, the number of clients opting for these methods has increased by nearly 30% every year since the start of EngenderHealth’s ACQUIRE Tanzania Project (ATP) in 2004. Through initiatives such as the RESPOND Project and ATP, EngenderHealth continues to expand the capacity of national governments to provide quality family planning, focusing on promoting the availability and use of long-acting and permanent methods.