title: Contraceptive social marketing in Albania - the NESMARK story.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the history of social marketing of modern contraceptives in Albania.
  
  
  METHODS
  We review documentation and activity of NESMARK, an Albanian non-governmental social marketing organisation, and national data on adoption of modern contraception.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 15 years of awareness raising, sales of affordable products, and provider training, NESMARK has impacted the introduction and adoption of modern contraception in Albania. NESMARK is the country's main distributor of emergency contraception (EC) and complements the public sector in the distribution of condoms and oral contraceptives. NESMARK has made major efforts to overcome prevalent taboos and misinformation held by medical and nursing personnel, pharmacists and the general public, regarding the effectiveness and safety of condoms, oral contraceptives, and EC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NESMARK has contributed to increasing the choices for modern contraception methods in Albania by providing affordable contraceptives, training providers, and educating the general population. However, widespread use of withdrawal coupled with the belief that it is as or more effective than modern contraception, continues to limit uptake of new methods and is a significant challenge to comprehensive and sustained social marketing programmes.
authors.affiliation: NESMARK Foundation, Tirana, Albania. a.paravani@nesmark.org.al
authors.forename: Ardian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paravani
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orgocka
mesh_terms: D000415:Albania; D017280:Condoms / Q000600:supply & distribution; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000379:methods; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000600:supply & distribution; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017149:Private Sector / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011357:Product Line Management; D040241:Social Marketing
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral