Person-Centered Measurement: Ensuring Prioritization of Individuals' Values, Needs, and Preferences Within the Global Contraceptive Measurement Ecosystem

Abstract

Despite growing enthusiasm for measurement approaches that capture individuals' needs, values, and preferences, there remains a lack of conceptual clarity regarding person-centered measurement in the global field of contraception. In this commentary, we propose a working definition of person-centered measurement within the contraceptive field and describe how this definition can be applied to existing and novel contraceptive indicators. We argue that person-centered measures of contraception must both reflect an individual's self-identified values, needs, and/or preferences related to contraception and allow an individual to assess the extent to which these values, needs, and/or preferences have been fulfilled. As a result, a person-centered measure allows the individual to define for themselves whether a "good" outcome has been achieved. While person-centered measures are a critical component of measuring the performance of contraceptive programs, measurement frameworks must also include non-person-centered measures that allow evaluation of normative constructs such as human rights and reproductive justice.