Table 8.

Steps for creating LGA-level variables that were used to measure FP supply environment “strength” for each SDP type

Variable	Survey question	SDP level	LGA level
Method choice: This continuous variable reflects FP availability and choice. It measures the mean. Percentage of possibly available modern contraceptives that are actually offered across FP SDPs within the LGA	“Does this SDP provide ‘X modern’ family planning method?”a	Created a dichotomous variable indicating whether each method was provided: yes = 1 and no = 0	Averaged the no. of methods provided among each FP SDP type in the LGA
		Added the total no. of methods available at each FP SPD	Divided that no. by the no. of methods that the respective FP SDP type could be offering, if they offered all possible contraceptive choices (10 for public and private HFs and 6 for PMSs and pharmacies)
		The range was from 0 to 10 among public and private HFs and from 0 to 6 among private pharmacies and PMSs	Divided the final ratio by 100
Availability of injectables: This variable is a marker of the availability of a commonly used form of modern FP in Nigeria. It measures the percentage of FP SDPs that provide an injectable form of contraception	“Does this SDP provide injectable contraceptives?”	Created a dichotomous variable indicating whether the SDP provides the method: yes = 1 and no = 0	Summed the total no. of FP SDPs that provided injectables
			Divided that no. by the total no. of FP SDPs within the LGA
			Multiplied the final ratio by 100
Availability of IUD: This variable is a marker of superior method choice. It measures the percentage of private and preferred public FP HFs that provides an IUD within the LGA	“Does this SDP provide the IUD?”	Created a dichotomous variable indicating whether the SDP provides the method: yes = 1 and no = 0	Summed the total no. of FP SDPs that provided IUDs
			Divided that no. by the total no. of FP SDPs within the LGA
			Multiplied the final ratio by 100
Stockouts: This variable is an indicator of stockout frequency. It measures the percentage of FP SDPs that had all normally available FP methods/brands in stock on the day of the interview	“Is X modern method currently available?”b	Created a dichotomous variable indicating current method availability: yes = 0 and no = 1 (“don’t know” was marked as missing)	Summed the no. of FP SDPs that had a stockout of at least 1 modern FP method
		If the SDP did not carry a certain method, then the answer was not applicable	Divided that no. by the total no. of FP SDPs in the LGA
		Summed the no. of normally available methods/brands that were not available on the day of the interview	To put the measure on the same percentage scale as the other measures, subtracted the ratio from one and multiplied it by 100
		If the sum was greater than “0” (e.g., that SDP had at least 1 method out of stock), then that SDP was marked as “1”; otherwise the SDP was marked as “0”	Example: [(total no. of SDPs at least one stockout on the day of the interview / total no. of FP SDPs) − 1] × 100
Hours provide FP services: This continuous variable is an indicator of physical access. It measures the average percentage of potential total hours (168 h in a week = 24 h × 7 days) that FP services/commodities are actually offered each week across SDPs	PMSs and pharmacies: “On average, how many hours per day is this (SDP) open?; and on average, how many days per week is this (SDP) open?”	PMSs and pharmacies: Multiplied the average no. of hrs the SDP was open by the average no. of days the SDP was open each week	Averaged the no. of hours that each SDP type was open in a week across the LGA (the range was 0 to 168 h)
		Made the assumption that if a pharmacy or PMS offers FP, then they do so at all times that the facility is open	Divided that no. by the maximum no. of hours that each SDP could be and/or are known, in cases, to be open (168 h/week = 24 h × 7 days)
	Public and private HFs: “What time does the facility typically open?; what time does the facility typically close?; and how many days per week is FP counseling and services available?”	Public and private HFs: Subtracted the time open from the time closed and multiplied that no. by the no. of days FP is offered in the week
			Divided the final ratio by 100
		For all data sets, the response “don’t know” was recoded as missing and “open 24 h” were recoded as 24
Partner consent: This variable is an indicator of administrative accessibility. It measures the percentage of FP SDPs in each LGA that require partner consent for at least one available modern method of contraception	“Do you require a partner’s consent before you will provide X modern method?”	Created dichotomous variable indicating partner requirement for each method: yes = 1 and no = 0	Summed the no. of FP SDPs that were marked “1”
		Summed the answers within each SDP	Divided that no. by the total no. of FP SDPs in the LGA
		If the sum was >“0” (e.g., that SDP required partner consent for at least one available FP method), then the SDP was marked as “1”; otherwise, it was “0”	Multiplied the final ratio by 100
Socially marketed contraceptives: This variable is an indicator of economic accessibility. It measures the percentage of FP SDPs that provide socially marketed contraceptives (contraceptives that are often sold at a lower price than commercial brands) within each LGA	“Does this SDP have socially marketed contraceptive products in stock?”	Created a dichotomous variable indicating whether the SDP provides at least one socially marketed brand: yes = 1 and no = 0	Summed the total no. of FP SDPs that provide socially marketed contraceptives within the LGA
			Divided that no. by the total no. of FP SDPs in the LGA.
			Multiplied the final ratio by 100

^aModern methods included (1) combined oral contraceptive pill, (2) progesterone-only pill, (3) emergency contraception, (4) male condom, (5) female condom, (6) injectables, (7) implants, (8) IUD, (9) female sterilization, and (10) male sterilization. The pharmacies and PMSs were not asked about forms of sterilization, the IUD, or implants

^bThese methods included (1) combined oral contraceptive pill, (2) progesterone-only pill, (3) emergency contraception, (4) male condom, (5) female condom, (6) injectables, (7) implants, (8) IUD. Forms of sterilization were not included