The DMPA-SC Access Collaborative hosted this April 21, 2021 webinar highlighting lessons learned to date through four years of data-driven technical assistance and coordination to ensure that women have increased access to self-injection as a contraceptive option, delivered through informed choice programming. The discussion focused on key topics for the introduction and scale-up of self-injection—and self-care interventions more broadly—at the country level including:

• Policy and advocacy for new product introduction.
• How to coordinate scale-up of a new product.
• Using data to inform program introduction and scale-up.
• Effective innovations and adaptations in provider training.

This discussion was moderated by Monica Mutesa, Zambia Country Coordinator, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH. Speakers included:

• Caitlin Corneliess, Project Director, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH
• Adewole Adefalu, Nigeria Country Coordinator, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, JSI
• Allen Namagembe, Uganda Deputy Director, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH
• Avotiana Rakotomanga, Madagascar Country Coordinator, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, JSI
• Alain Kabore, Regional Technical Advisor, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH

For more information, please contact FPoptions@path.org.

This was a hands-on skill-building session during the Making Self-Injection Count workshop in which participants worked with a sample data set in order to create data visualizations using Microsoft Excel. Two versions of the session were offered—a beginner session for participants with limited experience using Excel and data visualizations, and an advanced session for those with more experience. Participants needed a computer with Excel; the dataset and other materials were provided.

Objectives

By the end of the session, participants were able to:

• Identify key considerations for developing data visualization products.
• Build a dynamic and interactive decision-making tools in Excel through a hands-on exercise.
• Tailor data visualization products to meet the needs of different audiences.

Key takeaways

• Family planning data must be distilled and easy to understand to enable stakeholders to make decisions.
• When developing data visualizations, ask the following:
  • Who is your audience?
  • What do they want to know?
  • How will you communicate it?
• Stakeholders differ in their data needs and visual literacy, and the approach you use should align with the audience’s information needs.

Presenters

• Nicole Danfakha, Senior Data Viz Program Officer, JSI
• Dome Okoku, MLE Advisor, InSupply Health

The DMPA-SC Access Collaborative provides data-driven technical assistance, resources, and tools that countries need for designing, implementing, and monitoring the introduction and scale up of DMPA-SC self-injection as part of an expanded range of contraceptive methods, delivered through informed choice programming.

In addition to general information and evidence on DMPA-SC, partners can access the support outlined in the menu by submitting a request through the technical assistance request form linked below. Your request can be submitted by emailing the completed form to FPoptions@path.org.

WHO’s global family planning handbook provides high-quality, up-to-date guidance for health-care professionals working in low- and middle-income countries.

This checklist is a customizable tool that can be used to monitor Subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC, Sayana® Press) contraceptive self-injection programs and health worker practices. The questions can be adapted as needed to align with local program designs and guidelines. To access the MS Word version of this tool in English or French, please email FPoptions@path.org.

This journey map was designed to help program planners with self-injection programs.