Expanding Access to Injectable Contraceptives
A technical consultation, co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, and Family Health International (FHI), was held June 15–17, 2009, at the WHO in Geneva to review the evidence and programmatic experience for community-based provision of injectable contraceptives. Thirty technical and program experts from countries and organizations reviewed the scientific evidence and experiences from programs that provided injectable contraceptives through community-based health workers (CHWs). This evidence and programmatic experience came from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and focused on depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). The evidence consistently showed that given appropriate training, CHWs can screen clients effectively, provide DMPA injections safely, and counsel on side effects appropriately, demonstrating competence equivalent to higher level facility-based providers of DMPA. Continuation of use of DMPA by clients of CHWs was as long as those of clients receiving injections at clinics. In addition, the vast majority of clients expressed satisfaction with CHW provision of DMPA.
The Consultation concluded that sufficient evidence existed for national policies to support the introduction, continuation, and scale-up of community-based provision of progestin-only injectable contraceptives, especially DMPA. Provision of DMPA by CHWs will expand choice for underserved populations and contribute to reducing the unmet need for family planning. Operational guidelines for family planning should therefore reflect that appropriately trained CHWs can safely initiate use of DMPA and provide reinjection.
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