The concept of contraceptive method choice is complex and difficult to measure, usually requiring multiple metrics that represent the service environment, access, and acceptability. One of the most used measures for the family planning service delivery environment is method availability, or specifically, the contraceptive options that are available to clients at any given family planning service delivery point. Despite the importance of the measure, indicator definitions vary widely and are not standardized. We identified six versions of the method availability indicator and calculated each version using Service Provision Assessment data from three countries with varying family planning profiles, health service structures, and from different geographic areas: Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Haiti. We compared method availability estimates by urban/rural location, facility type, and across country context. Our results showed a wide variability in method availability estimates depending on the indicator used. Generally, indicators requiring a particular mix of method types had lower estimates of method availability than indicators only requiring a minimum number of methods. Results are discussed and recommendations are made to standardize indicator language and guidance. We further recommend the standardization of an indicator with a minimum mix of method types to ensure that a variety of method preferences can be met.

中文翻译：

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需要对现代方法可用性进行标准化测量：使用三个国家背景下的卫生设施数据评估指标

避孕方法选择的概念复杂且难以衡量，通常需要多个指标来代表服务环境、可及性和可接受性。计划生育服务提供环境最常用的衡量标准之一是方法的可用性，或者具体地说，是在任何给定的计划生育服务提供点提供给客户的避孕选择。尽管该措施很重要，但指标定义差异很大且没有标准化。我们确定了方法可用性指标的六个版本，并使用来自三个国家的服务提供评估数据计算每个版本，这些国家具有不同的计划生育概况、卫生服务结构和不同的地理区域：孟加拉国、刚果民主共和国和海地。我们按城市/农村位置、设施类型和跨国背景比较了方法可用性估计。我们的结果表明，根据所使用的指标，方法可用性估计存在很大差异。一般来说，需要特定方法类型组合的指标对方法可用性的估计低于仅需要最少数量方法的指标。讨论了结果并提出了标准化指标语言和指南的建议。我们进一步建议使用最少的方法类型组合对指标进行标准化，以确保可以满足各种方法偏好。与只需要最少数量方法的指标相比，需要特定方法类型组合的指标对方法可用性的估计较低。讨论了结果并提出了标准化指标语言和指南的建议。我们进一步建议使用最少的方法类型组合对指标进行标准化，以确保可以满足各种方法偏好。与只需要最少数量方法的指标相比，需要特定方法类型组合的指标对方法可用性的估计较低。讨论了结果并提出了标准化指标语言和指南的建议。我们进一步建议使用最少的方法类型组合对指标进行标准化，以确保可以满足各种方法偏好。