IRH has been working in India since 2001 to integrate the Standard Days Method (SDM) into family planning services through a research-to-practice model. From 2001-2003, pilot studies with two organizations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh tested the feasibility of introducing the SDM in India. Results showed that:

• There was a demand for the SDM;
•  There was a high satisfaction level with the method;
• SDM appealed to women because it has no side effects or health risks;
• The method could be easily taught by providers, including community level workers, and correctly used by women.

Subsequently, the Government of Jharkhand (GOJ) tested the integration of the SDM into the reproductive and child health services provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOH/FW) and the Department of Social Welfare (Integrated Child Development Services program). The project, which was implemented in Ranchi district from 2005-2007, introduced the SDM to the public sector in Kanke and Ormanjhi blocks.

The results of the Jharkhand Impact Study were positive, demonstrating that SDM was feasible to offer in the public sector by all levels of providers (community based and clinical) and that it was appealing to women who wished to space births, particularly women who had never used a family planning method.

As a result of the Jharkhand study, in 2007 the Government of Jharkhand expressed its desire to scale up SDM and LAM services throughout the state and requested technical assistance from IRH/India to accomplish this.

In addition to these research projects, IRH/India has worked with a variety of other local partners in the states of Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Orissa, and Uttar Pradesh over the past several years to integrate both SDM and LAM into NGO family planning programs. (Reports of IRH-India’s research and project activities from 2001-2007 are available upon request.)

As well, various policy successes were achieved during this time, including SDM and LAM being named in the Government of India’s Reproductive and Child Health Phase II program implementation plan as methods that can expand choice.

Following these experiences, there was clear interest among stakeholders in India to scale up SDM and LAM. In particular, the successful introduction study in Jharkhand led to the Government of Jharkhand’s decision to scale up SDM and LAM services throughout the state in phases with technical assistance from IRH. 

For current work, see our Programs Section.