Resource Library

Russia Reproductive Health Market Assessment

In December 2010, the Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) project, led by Abt Associates, explored the possibility of developing a strategy to expand the hormonal contraceptive market in Russia, with a particular focus on oral contraceptives (OCs). The SHOPS project partnered with Bayer Schering Pharma (now Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals) to conduct market research in Russia to gain insights into consumer and health care provider attitudes. The assessment set forth the following objectives:

• To identify recommendations for increasing access to and use of high-quality commercial contraceptives among non-users, especially lower-income non-users
• To identify recommendations for increasing the private sector market of hormonal contraceptives, including OCs, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and other methods, among lower-income users

The assessment found that there is a lack of family planning information outside of health facilities and therefore recommends finding innovative ways to increase access to reproductive heatlh information and education. This should also include working with district and local governments to implement reproductive health related educational policies for schools, other educational entities, and work places. Many service providers also felt the need to have access to more family planning information to distribute to their clients. Download the brief for more details on the methodology, findings and recommendations.