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The Pocket Guide to Managing Contraceptive Supplies addresses one of the most important components of any program that provides family planning services—the logistics system that manages the delivery, quality, and storage of contraceptive supplies. These supplies are essential; without them, family planning services cannot be provided. 

This guide is for the staff of family planning or health clinics who manage contraceptive supplies and for the supervisor who oversees these logistics activities. This booklet is not a complete logistics text; its purpose is to be a quick reference for logistics formulas and principles to help you manage your supplies (both contraceptives and other commodities) correctly and efficiently. 

Part I of this Pocket Guide is a reference for staff in clinics and warehouses. It explains the basic principles of logistics, how to keep appropriate levels of contraceptive supplies on hand, good warehouse practices to follow, how to use logistics data, and common logistics problems and their solutions. 

Part II is for supervisors. It discusses the principles of supervision and contains a questionnaire for supervisors to use during supervisory visits to assess logistics activities. Clinic staff can also use the questionnaire to informally evaluate their logistics system. 

View or download the Pocket Guide

(PDF format available in English, French and Spanish)

The Pocket Guide to Managing Contraceptive Supplies is available below by downloading each chapter in PDF format, or for faster modems download the entire version here.

• English version Pocket Guide to Managing Contraceptive Supplies publication PDF 213KB  
    
• French version Guide de Poche de la Gestion des Approvisionnements en Contraceptifs PDF 295KB
    
• Spanish version Guía de Bolsillo sobre el Manejo de Suministros de Anticonceptivos PDF 719KB

English version of PDF broken down into sections

Preface
Acknowledgments (PDF 16KB)

Table of Contents

Introduction (PDF 15KB)
What Does Contraceptive Logistics Mean? 
Brief Logistics Glossary

PART I 
Managing Contraceptive Supplies (PDF 62KB)

Essential Logistics Data
The Stock Card 
The Daily Activity Register 
The Requisition and Issue Voucher
The Maximum/Minimum Inventory Control System
Assessing Your Supply Status
Ordering Supplies

Following Good Warehousing Practices (PDF 55KB)

First-to-Expire, First-Out (FEFO)
When Contraceptive Supplies Arrive
Shelf Life and Storage Conditions
When to Check Contraceptive Quality
How to Check Contraceptive Quality
Problems with Contraceptive Quality
Managing Complaints about Contraceptives
Conducting a Physical Inventory
Warehouse Space Requirements

Using Logistics Data (PDF 36KB)

Forecasting
Couple-Years of Protection
Common Logistics Problems, Probable Causes, Possible Solutions

Part II 
Supervising Supply Management (PDF 30KB)

Principles of Supervision 
Conducting a Site Visit 
Contraceptive Supply Manual

Resources for Further Information (PDF 14KB)

Index (PDF 13KB)

Date last reviewed: 03/21/2006
Content source: Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion