Applying Behavioural Insights to Improve Take up of Post-abortion Family Planning: In-depth Study in Nepal

The overall goal of the proposed research project is to increase uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) among clients who receive a safe abortion at a Marie Stopes International - Nepal (MSI-N)/ Sunaulo Parivar Nepal (SPN) centre using a behaviourally-informed intervention: monthly feedback to service providers comparing their LARC uptake as a percentage of PAFP uptake performance to other centres. The impact of the intervention will be evaluated using a clustered, stepped wedge randomized controlled trial (RCT). The intervention will be implemented and data will be collected regularly from 36 centres over a period of 6 months. The RCT study design is stepped wedge, meaning that all health centres will begin in the control group and will be randomly assigned to begin receiving the treatment in 4 "steps". Each step will be 1 month in duration. The primary outcome of interest is LARC uptake as a percentage of PAFP uptake. The secondary outcome is type of method selected. The intervention consists of a monthly poster that centres will receive which shows service providers the PAFP LARC % performance at their centre as compared to 3 similar centres. The intervention was developed using a behavioral science methodology, including interviews with clients and service providers at 9 health centres and user-testing of the intervention with service providers at 4 health centres. Data used for this study will consist of daily PAFP LARC uptake data that is already being collected and consolidated at centres. The data will be securely shared between centres and the MSI-N central support office in Kathmandu on a weekly basis. Data will be securely shared between MSI-N and ideas monthly. Monitoring will consist of mystery client visits at each centre two times during the study period. At least one interview will be conducted with each service provider through the study period. The investigators will manually check 5% of all medical records to confirm that electronic data is accurate. Service providers will undergo written consent in order that they may choose to participate, or choose not to participate, in the study. Individual clients will be opted in to having their data shared for the purpose of the study. Clients will be notified about data sharing through posters and interactions with service providers and can choose not to have their data shared. All safe abortion clients, aged 18 and older, are eligible to have their data shared. Data from approximately 12,000 safe abortion clients will be required for the study. Strict confidentiality procedures in line with Marie Stopes International's best practices will be put into place to ensure that information made public or otherwise distributed outside the PIs and other key personnel cannot be linked to any individual client records. Results from the study will be published in a report, among other outputs, and the outcomes will be shared within MSI as well as with the wider sexual and reproductive health (SRH) community.