Reverse innovation - South to North learnings in the provision of postpartum contraception: implementation in a high-income setting.

Makins A., Mahmood H., Talbot K., Hordern C., Taghinejadi N., Houlden R., Bright S., Arulkumaran S.

This article outlines a unique example of reverse innovation. Lessons from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) shaped healthcare practices in a high-income setting. We describe how the FIGO Postpartum Intrauterine Device Initiative, implemented across six LMICs, informed the development of a postpartum contraception program in a UK-based NHS trust. Despite the well-documented benefits of postpartum family planning (PPFP), implementing dedicated PPFP services in the UK has been challenging due to fragmented healthcare funding and cross service integration barriers. The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for adaptation, providing a unique opportunity to rapidly establish a comprehensive local PPFP service. We outline how strategies from LMICs - including task-sharing, provider training, and policy advocacy - were directly applied to overcome these barriers and drive successful implementation. This case study highlights the potential of South-to-North knowledge transfer in driving healthcare innovation, improving contraceptive access, and underscores the importance of global collaboration and adaptive learning in reproductive healthcare.

DOI

10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2025.102653

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2025-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

102

Keywords

Contraception/family planning/reproductive health, Healthcare integration, Postpartum family planning (PPFP), Reverse innovation, South-to-north learning, Task-sharing/shifting, Humans, Female, Family Planning Services, COVID-19, Contraception, Postpartum Period, Developing Countries, United Kingdom, Pregnancy, SARS-CoV-2, Intrauterine Devices, Health Services Accessibility

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