John Townsend, Ph.D.
Vice President
John W. Townsend, Ph.D. is the vice president and director of the Population Council's Reproductive Health program. He is responsible for overseeing the Council's contraceptive product development as well as the design and implementation of strategies to promote better reproductive health and family planning programs worldwide, especially among disadvantaged populations in developing countries, through research and policy innovations.
Townsend has worked for the Population Council for 25 years. He holds a doctorate in social psychology with supporting studies in public affairs and educational psychology from the University of Minnesota. During his tenure with the Council, he has served as director of the Frontiers in Reproductive Health program; director of operations research programs in Asia and the Near East (1993–98); regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean in Mexico (1990–93); director of operations research programs in Latin America and the Caribbean (1985–90); and country director for Colombia (1984). Before joining the Council, Townsend served for eight years as a social scientist with the Institute of Nutrition for Central America and Panama, in Guatemala.
Townsend is a frequent presenter in professional meetings, with extensive publications and studies conducted on development, population, family planning, and reproductive health. He has worked and traveled extensively in more than 35 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, and in 2006 he received USAID's Marjorie Horn Operations Research Award for excellence in conducting and utilizing research.
John Townsend, Ph.D.
Vice President
Assessing the Acceptability of the Progesterone Vaginal Ring in Sub-Saharan Africa (more)
To expand contraceptive options for women in sub-Saharan Africa we are evaluating the acceptability of the progesterone vaginal ring, a user-controlled contraceptive method for lactating women, and exploring strategies for how to introduce the new technology.
(10/2011 - 9/2014)
Topics: Access to contraceptive methods; Family planning services; Maternal and newborn health; New and improved reproductive technologies; Postpartum family planning ; Technologies for women
Countries: Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal
John Townsend, Ph.D.
Vice President
A greenprint for sustainable contraceptive research and development (abstract) (HTML)Moore,Kirsten; Townsend,John W.; Spieler,Jeff; Coffey,Patricia S.; Blithe,Diana; Arndorfer,Elizabeth; Dawes,Elizabeth
Contraception 87(3): 347-351
Publication date: 2013
Executive summary -- Family planning programs for the 21st century: Rationale and design (PDF)
Bongaarts,John; Cleland,John C.; Townsend,John W.; Bertrand,Jane T.; Das Gupta,Monica
Publication date: 2012
Family Planning Programs for the 21st Century: Rationale and Design (PDF) (HTML)
Bongaarts,John; Cleland,John C.; Townsend,John W.; Bertrand,Jane T.; Das Gupta,Monica
Publication date: 2012
Résumé Exécutif -- Les programmes de planification familiale du XXIe siècle: fondement et conception (PDF)
Bongaarts,John; Cleland,John C.; Townsend,John W.; Bertrand,Jane T.; Das Gupta,Monica
Publication date: 2012
New strategies for providing hormonal contraception in developing countries (abstract) (HTML)
Townsend,John W.; Sitruk-Ware,Regine; Williams,Katherine; Askew,Ian; Brill,Klaus
Contraception 83(5): 405-409
Publication date: 2011
Postabortion care: Going to scale (HTML)
RamaRao,Saumya; Townsend,John W.; Diop,Nafissatou J.; Raifman,Sarah
International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 37(1): 40-44
Publication date: 2011
Breakthrough in microbicides development (PDF)
Rutenberg,Naomi; Townsend,John W.
IPPF Medical Bulletin 44(3): 3-4
Publication date: 2010
Emergency contraception: Idea to program (PDF)
RamaRao,Saumya; Townsend,John W.; Raifman,Sarah
Brief
Publication date: 2010
Program strategies for reducing inequities in reproductive health services (HTML)
Townsend,John W.
Studies in Family Planning 41(2): 139-142
Publication date: 2010
Acceptability and promotion strategies for LNG-IUS in Ghana: A public health assessment (PDF)
Nyarko,Philomena; Adohinzin,Cletus; Tapsoba,Placide; Esantsi,Selina; Townsend,John W.; Kanlisi,Nicholas; Ed-Nighpense,Ekua; Asare,Gloria Quansah
Publication date: 2009
ECP handbook: Introducing and mainstreaming the provision of emergency contraceptive pills in developing countries (PDF)
Hossain,Sharif Mohammed Ismail; Khan,M.E.; Vernon,Ricardo; Keesbury,Jill; Askew,Ian; Townsend,John W.; Rumbold,Victoria
FRONTIERS Manual
Publication date: 2009
Guide pour les pilules de contraception d'urgence : Introduire et développer l'offre des pilules de contraception d'urgence dans les pays en voie de développement (PDF)
Hossain,Sharif Mohammed Ismail; Khan,M.E.; Vernon,Ricardo; Keesbury,Jill; Askew,Ian; Townsend,John W.; Rumbold,Victoria
Guide de FRONTIERS
Publication date: 2009
Kenya's fertility transition: Trends, determinants and implications for policy and programmes (PDF)
Askew,Ian; Ezeh,Alex C.; Bongaarts,John; Townsend,John W.
Publication date: 2009
Assessing Integration Methodology (AIM): A handbook for measuring and assessing the integration of family planning and other reproductive health services (PDF) (HTML)
Rivero-Fuentes,M.Estela; RamaRao,Saumya; Estrada,Ricardo; Warren,Charlotte; Mullick,Saiqa; Askew,Ian; Birungi,Harriet; Townsend,John W.; Medina,Susana
Publication date: 2008
New vistas in contraceptive technology (abstract) (PDF)
RamaRao,Saumya; Sitruk-Ware,Regine; Townsend,John W.
Gender and Development 16(2): 327-344
Publication date: 2008
A question of ethics: Research and practice in reproductive health (abstract) (PDF)
RamaRao,Saumya; Friedland,Barbara A.; Townsend,John W.
Studies in Family Planning 38(4): 229-241
Publication date: 2007
Learning through conflict: Ethical debates in sexual and reproductive health (PDF)
Townsend,John W.
Studies in Family Planning 38(4): 225-228
Publication date: 2007
The changing position of IUDs in reproductive health services in developing countries: Opportunities and challenges (abstract) (HTML)
Townsend,John W.; Jacobstein,Roy
Contraception 75(6S): S35-S40
Publication date: 2007
Correlates of inter-birth intervals: Implications of optimal birth spacing strategies in Mozambique (PDF)
RamaRao,Saumya; Townsend,John W.; Askew,Ian
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2006
Ethical issues in research on sexual coercion among youth
Townsend,John W.; Jejeebhoy,Shireen J.; Shah,Iqbal; Thapa,Shyam
from Sex Without Consent: Young People in Developing Countries, pp. 333-338
Publication date: 2005
Marital sexual violence is 'a terrifying experience' (PDF)
Haque,Faizal; Townsend,John W.; Khan,M.E.
Network 23(4): 12-
Publication date: 2005
Cuánto cuesta mejorar la calidad de la atención en salud reproductiva (PDF)
Raney,Laura; Joyce,Stephanie; Townsend,John W.
Nuevas perspectivas sobre la calidad de la atención (no. 5)
Publication date: 2003
Improving the quality of reproductive health care: How much does it cost? (PDF)
Raney,Laura; Joyce,Stephanie; Townsend,John W.
New Perspectives on Quality of Care Brief (no. 5)
Publication date: 2003
L'amélioration de la qualité de la santé reproductive : à quel prix ? (PDF)
Raney,Laura; Joyce,Stephanie; Townsend,John W.
Nouvelles perspectives sur la qualité des soins (no. 5)
Publication date: 2003
Reproductive behavior in the context of global population (abstract) (HTML)
Townsend,John W.
American Psychologist 58(3): 197-204
Publication date: 2003
Behind closed doors: A qualitative study of sexual behaviour of married women in Bangladesh (abstract) (HTML)
Khan,M.E.; Townsend,John W.; D'Costa,Shampa
Culture, Health and Sexuality 4(2): 237-256
Publication date: 2002
Designing HIV/AIDS Intervention Studies: An Operations Research Handbook (PDF)
Fisher,Andrew A.; Foreit,James R.; Laing,John E.; Stoeckel,John E.; Townsend,John W.
Publication date: 2002
Documenting impact of quality of care on women's reproductive health, Philippines and Senegal
Costello,Marilou P.; Sanogo,Diouratie; Townsend,John W.
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2002
Male involvement in a reproductive health programme: Where we stand today--A critical review of the initiatives taken in India
Khan,M.E.; Townsend,John W.; Rob,Ubaidur
from Programming for Male Involvement in Reproductive Health: Report of the Meeting of WHO Regional Advisers in Reproductive Health, pp. 58-62
Publication date: 2002
Sexual violence within marriage: A case study of rural Uttar Pradesh (abstract) (HTML)
Khan,M.E.; Townsend,John W.; Sinha,Ranjana; Lakhanpal,Seema
International Quarterly of Community Health Education 21(2): 133-147
Publication date: 2002
Perceptions and use of injectables in India: Experience with DMPA in three urban clinics in Uttar Pradesh
Caleb-Varkey,Leila; Townsend,John W.; Khan,M.E.; Puri,Chander P.; Van Look,Paul F.A.
from Sexual and Reproductive Health: Recent Advances, Future Directions, pp. 197-212
Publication date: 2001
Reproductive and child health programme: An in-depth analysis of changes in population policy and its impact on the Family Welfare Programme in India
Khan,M.E.; Townsend,John W.
Demography India 30(1): 73-100
Publication date: 2001
Safer maternal health in rural Uttar Pradesh: Do primary health services contribute? (abstract) (PDF) (HTML)
RamaRao,Saumya; Caleb-Varkey,Leila; Khan,M.E.; Townsend,John W.
Health Policy and Planning 16(3): 256-263
Publication date: 2001
Strengthening social science research on women's health. Lessons learned from a capacity building programme
Khan,M.E.; Patel,Bella C.; Townsend,John W.
Publication date: 2001
Target-free approach: Emerging evidence (PDF)
Khan,M.E.; Townsend,John W.; Pachauri,Saroj
from Implementing a Reproductive Health Agenda in India: The Beginning, pp. 41-75
Publication date: 1999
The quality of care in the sterilization camps of Uttar Pradesh
Townsend,John W.; Khan,M.E.; Gupta,R.B.; Koenig,Michael A.
from Improving Quality of Care in India's Family Welfare Programme: The Challenge Ahead, pp. 314-330
Publication date: 1999
Analysis of price change on the perceptions and use of DMPA among clients using reproductive health services in Uttar Pradesh, India (PDF)
Caleb-Varkey,Leila; Townsend,John W.; Vishwanath,Sneh; Tiwari,Sudha
Asia and Near East OR/TA Project Final Report
Publication date: 1998
Manual para el Diseño de Investigación Operativa en Planificación Familiar
Fisher,Andrew A.; Lang,John; Stoeckel,John E.; Townsend,John W.
Publication date: 1998
Manuel de recherche opérationnelle en matière de planification familiale, Seconde édition
Fisher,Andrew A.; Laing,John E.; Stoeckel,John E.; Townsend,John W.
Publication date: 1998
Workshop on youth across Asia (PDF)
Townsend,John W.; McCauley,Ann P.; Agarwal,Kokila
Asia and Near East OR/TA Project Final Report
Publication date: 1998
DMPA provision in PSS clinics in Uttar Pradesh: Costs and prices (PDF)
RamaRao,Saumya; Townsend,John W.; Caleb-Varkey,Leila; Tiwari,Sudha; Vishwanath,Sneh; Singh,Harbans
Asia and Near East OR/TA Project Technical Paper 10
Publication date: 1997
Integrating RTI services in primary health care system: Observations from an operations research in Uttar Pradesh, India (PDF)
Khan,M.E.; RamaRao,Saumya; Gupta,R.B.; Patel,Bella C.; Caleb-Varkey,Leila; Tuladhar,Jayanti; Kumar,Sanjeev; Townsend,John W.
Asia and Near East OR/TA Project Special Report
Publication date: 1997
Sexual violence within marriage: A case study of rural Uttar Pradesh (PDF)
Khan,M.E.; Townsend,John W.; Sinha,Ranjana; Lakhanpal,Seema
Asia and Near East OR/TA Project Special Report
Publication date: 1997
A model of costs of RTI case management services in Uttar Pradesh (PDF)
RamaRao,Saumya; Townsend,John W.; Khan,M.E.
Asia and Near East OR/TA Project Technical Paper
Publication date: 1996
A model of costs of a CBD programme (PDF)
RamaRao,Saumya; Townsend,John W.; Khan,M.E.
Asia and Near East OR/TA Special Report
Publication date: 1995
Population trends and issues in the developing countries: Regional reports
Greenhalgh,Susan; Hull,Terence H.; Jain,Anrudh K.; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Nag,Moni; Phillips,James F.; Shorter,Frederic C.; Townsend,John W.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 35)
Publication date: 1992
Handbook for Family Planning Operations Research Design [Arabic] (PDF)
Fisher,Andrew A.; Laing,John E.; Stoeckel,John E.; Townsend,John W.
Publication date: 1991
Handbook for Family Planning Operations Research Design, Second Edition (PDF)
Fisher,Andrew A.; Laing,John E.; Stoeckel,John E.; Townsend,John W.
Publication date: 1991
John Townsend, Ph.D.
Vice President
A foundation's role in contraceptive security: Highlighting the International Contraceptive Access (ICA) Foundation (PDF)Presentation at the International Conference on Family Planning: Research and Best Practices, Kampala, 18 November
Williams,Katherine; Townsend,John W.; Brill,Klaus
Publication date: 2009
New strategies for providing hormonal contraception in developing countries (PDF)
Presentation at the XIX FIGO World Congress of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Cape Town, 5 October
Townsend,John W.; Sitruk-Ware,Regine; Williams,Katherine; Askew,Ian; Brill,Klaus
Publication date: 2009
The stalled fertility transition and family planning in Kenya (PDF)
Presentation at the International Conference on Family Planning: Research and Best Practices, Kampala, 17 November
Askew,Ian; Ezeh,Alex C.; Bongaarts,John; Townsend,John W.
Publication date: 2009
Fundación ICA (Mirena) (PDF)
Presentación, taller regional sobre utilización de hallazgos de investigación operativa para mejorar el acceso, calidad e integración de los servicios de planificación familar en América Latina y el Caribe, La Antigua, Guatemala, 8-11 Octubre
Townsend,John W.; Brill,Klaus
Publication date: 2007
Situación actual de la salud reproductiva y planificación familiar en América Latina y el Caribe (PDF)
Presentación, taller regional sobre utilización de hallazgos de investigación operativa para mejorar el acceso, calidad e integración de los servicios de planificación familar en América Latina y el Caribe, La Antigua, Guatemala, 8-11 Octubre
Townsend,John W.; Beck,James
Publication date: 2007
Contact
E-mail: jtownsend@popcouncil.org
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John Townsend
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