Achieving Positive Policy Changes for Family Planning in Bangladesh

While the Bangladesh family planning program has become one of the most successful such programs in the world, clients still often may be denied access to the contraceptive of their choice as a result of policy barriers and medical eligibility criteria that are incompatible with World Health Organization (WHO) guidance. Such barriers contribute to the low use of LA/PMs. A more conducive policy environment might be expected to contribute to greater use of LA/PMs, in conjunction with improved service delivery and increased demand. The Mayer Hashi project applies EngenderHealth’s Supply–EnablingEnvironment–Demand (SEED) programming model to its activities in Bangladesh (EngenderHealth, 2011). This model states that programs will be more successful if supply, demand, and the enabling environment are addressed comprehensively. And one of the most significant aspects of the enabling environment involves the policies that affect people’s ability to meet their reproductive intentions. Therefore, Mayer Hashi undertook a careful, structured process to try to achieve significant policy changes in Bangladesh.