The strategic approach to the introduction of DMPA as an opportunity to improve quality of care for all contraceptive methods in Viet Nam.

This paper presents the strategic approach to the introduction of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) as an opportunity to improve quality of care for all contraceptive methods in Viet Nam. Testing of the strategic approach developed by the Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction initiative with a variety of other institutions comprised three stages. Stage I involves a strategic assessment of the need for contraceptive introduction carried out in 1994. Several conclusions were derived from the activity: 1) priority should be given to improving the provision of the methods already available; 2) there is no need for removal of existing methods from the public sector family planning program; and 3) introduction of fertility regulation technology should be approached with great caution. Stage II of the test developed a strategy for DMPA introduction in Viet Nam within the context of broad method choice and improved quality of care for all family planning methods. The final program of the test Stage III assists in the wider introduction of DMPA through scaling up of Stage II program interventions. Overall the strategic approach shows that it can be effectively utilized to introduce contraceptive technologies and at the same time improve the quality of care for all methods in the FP program.