Tips for Writing a Program Abstract (EN) | #ICFP2025

Summary

This presentation, led by Vinit Sharma, the Regional Technical Advisor for Family Planning and Reproductive Health at UNFPA, outlines the key elements for writing a program abstract for submission to the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP). The session covers the importance of presenting research, the structure of a program abstract, including sections like the title, background, methodology, results, and lessons learned. Practical tips are shared on how to effectively convey research findings and ensure they meet ICFP's guidelines, with emphasis on clarity, data integrity, and relevance to family planning issues.

Takeaways

• 😀 Abstract titles should be concise, clear, and descriptive, capturing the essence of the study in 10-12 words.
• 😀 The significance/background section should clearly outline the research gap and explain why the study is important.
• 😀 Methodology is a critical section; focus on study design, data collection procedures, sample size, and analytical methods.
• 😀 Results should directly address the research questions, providing clear statistical data and explaining both positive and negative findings.
• 😀 The program implications or lessons learned section must highlight key takeaways, future recommendations, and policy implications.
• 😀 Abstracts should avoid unnecessary background information and should focus on what's new and important to the field of family planning.
• 😀 Be honest in presenting your findings, including null results if they are relevant to the research question.
• 😀 Follow the conference guidelines carefully, including word count, formatting, and clarity of language.
• 😀 Ethical considerations are crucial—ensure that your abstract is free from plagiarism and falsification.
• 😀 ICFP prioritizes abstracts that contribute new knowledge and evidence to improve family planning programs and policies.
• 😀 For quantitative abstracts, consistency in reporting statistical data (e.g., confidence intervals or p-values) is essential.

Q & A

Why is presenting at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) important?

Presenting at ICFP allows you to contribute new knowledge to the field of family planning, learn from other presentations, develop new skills, and contribute to your professional development.

What is the main purpose of a program abstract for ICFP?

The main purpose of a program abstract is to demonstrate the relevance of your program and findings to reviewers by summarizing the intervention, methodology, key findings, impact outcomes, and lessons learned.

How can you ensure the title of your abstract is effective?

A good title should be concise (10-12 words), descriptive, and reflect the content and type of study. It should also capture the reader's attention and differentiate your abstract from others on the same topic.

What should be included in the significance or background section of an abstract?

In this section, you should clearly describe why the program or evaluation was necessary, highlight gaps in existing research, and explain how your study fills those gaps. Avoid summarizing generic background information.

What are the essential components to describe when discussing a program's implementation in the abstract?

When describing a program's implementation, include the program's goals and objectives, the theory of change model (if used), specific activities conducted, the target population, and the number of people who received the program activities.

Why is the methodology section critical in a program abstract?

The methodology section is crucial because it describes the research tools, data sources, collection procedures, time frame, sample size, and analytical approaches. It ensures that the research is valid and reliable.

What should be reported in the results or key findings section?

The results section should report key findings based on the type of evaluation (formative, outcome, or impact), include both positive and negative findings, and clearly relate the results to the research questions or hypotheses.

What should be included in the program implications or lessons learned section?

This section should address how the findings contribute to the existing knowledge, what the implications are for future family planning programs, policies, or research, and provide recommendations for future research and evaluations.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a program abstract for ICFP?

Avoid writing long and dense sentences, not following the word limit, failing to identify what is not known in existing research, and misusing acronyms without definitions. Also, avoid plagiarism or falsifying information.

How does the ICFP abstract review process prioritize submissions?

The ICFP abstract review process prioritizes submissions that strictly follow the guidelines, present new knowledge, are scientifically sound, and demonstrate clear methodology and data analysis.