From pilot to mainstream: a decade of working in partnerships to expand access to emergency contraception in Mexico

Abstract

Emergency contraception (EC) is used post-coitally and offers women an important second chance to prevent pregnancy. Approximately 10 years ago, Mexico became one of the earliest countries working to expand EC access. Partners came together to pursue a synergistic four-pronged strategy, including product registration, health care provider training and orientation, awareness raising among the general public, and policy change. By 2006, five EC products were registered and sold in Mexico, EC was widely available through pharmacies and included in the public sector contraceptive options, and knowledge of the method had increased substantially.

Keywords:

• Mexico
• emergency contraception
• post-coital contraception
• family planning norm
• partnership

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the many partners who worked to increase access to EC in Mexico. We especially want to acknowledge and honour the contributions of Julio Frenk and the late Charlotte Ellertson.