Technical experts from EngenderHealth and Family Health International who reviewed these and other country guidelines found the Mali national guidelines generally well organized and easy to read and understand. The main limitation with the guidelines is that they focus on Norplant implants, which are no longer available. Some information is provided about Jadelle in an appendix.

Some strengths of the guidelines include:

• The inclusion of flow charts for how to manage side effects. However, the information in the flow charts is not fully accurate.
• Good, concise information about insertion and the different removal techniques.

Weaknesses include:

• The guidelines address only three side effects and complications.
• Some errors were noted in Annex 1, “Criteres d’eligibilite,” such as the classifications for migraine and unexplained vaginal bleeding. In addition, the classification scheme was modified from the WHO MEC classification, which can lead to confusion. For example, MEC Category 1 is represented as O in the Mali guidelines; Category 2 is represented as O-; Category 3 as N+; and Category 4 as N. 
• Information about Jadelle in the appendix is accurate except there is no mention that breastfeeding mothers should not use implants until at least 6 weeks after delivery.