Self-administered subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) is poised to increase access to contraception; however, governments are concerned about the waste management of used units. Self-injectors in Malawi and Uganda are currently instructed to store used units in containers and return them to health workers for disposal. However, this may not be feasible in low-resource settings, especially for younger or covert self-injectors. We describe adolescent (15–19 years) and adult (20–49 years) self-injectors’ disposal experiences in Uganda and Malawi. When possible, we compare covert and overt users’ experiences.
Background: Nigerian policymakers are debating task-shifting injectable contraceptive services to Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs). Methodology: One hundred fifty-two PPMVs were trained to provide injectable contraceptives in Oyo and Nasarawa states. Data were collected before and 1, 3 and 9 months post-training. χ2 tests were conducted to assess associations between survey time points. Main findings: Few PPMVs had the necessary knowledge to provide injectables pretraining. A majority demonstrated increased knowledge after the training. Knowledge required for screening and counseling clients was lower than knowledge on administration. Conclusion: PPMVs should be trained before providing injectable services. Additional research is needed on the benefits of job aids for screening and counseling.
