Working to achieve “full access, full choice” for all

At the last International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November 2013, a key theme was “full access, full choice.” Truly successful use of family planning requires both. Women andmenwho need family planning deserve ready access to a variety of family planning methods in order to choose what best suits their needs. The articles in this Supplement, compiled from research presented at the ICFP, approach access and choice from several perspectives. The research reflects work done in different settings, and with a variety of methodologies. Some work spans continents, and other studies maintain a local focus. In aggregate, they add to what we know—and highlight some things we still need to learn—about family planning access and choice. In an analysis of data from 36 countries, Ugaz et al. [1] highlight the potential of the private sector to expand family planning access inmany of the world’s regions. Reichwein et al. [2] use a mixed-methods design to elucidate family planning client profiles, which can enhance the ability to tailor family planning programs. Eva et al. [3] analyze experience with family planning vouchers across 11 countries in Africa and Asia. While they must avoid undue focus on targets and quotas, vouchers can expand access to family planning for some women who otherwise lack resources. Some authors approached questions of access and choice within the framework of specific family planning methods. In a demand generation analysis for Sayana Press (Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) that used data from 11 African countries, Khan et al. [4] conclude that this easy-to-use injectable contraceptive delivery system may offer an acceptable and safe option for millions of women. Shelus et al. [5] conducted a geospatial analysis for two regions in Ghana; their results suggest that utilizing nonclinic settings like licensed chemical sellers may expand access to depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for women in those areas. Some groups of family planning users face particular challenges. For example, individuals living with HIV/AIDS have more complex reproductive health needs than those who are not infected with HIV. Wekesa et al. [6] highlight the persistence of barriers to contraceptive use, and continued unmet need, for individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Hobstetter et al. [7] describe the inadequate availability of emergency contraception—often a last resort—for refugees on the Thai–Burma border. This accompanies a lack of anticipatory contraceptive options for these women. Such reports remind us of the urgent need for attention to the family planning needs of disadvantaged individuals. Men and couples must be included in conversations about family planning access and choice.Men’s perspectives often influence the success, or failure, of a couple’s contraceptive use. Babalola et al. [8] explore contraceptive ideation amongagroupofNigerianmen. Theirfindingsunderscore