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.

By leveraging digital platforms, family planning programs can integrate new approaches that help reduce the costs, time, and inconvenience associated with traditional classroom training. PATH and JSI, Inc. have recently developed digital training resources for health workers and clients learning to administer DMPA-SC.

A 10-lesson DMPA-SC eLearning course for health workers is available in English and French and can be taken on computer or mobile device with internet access. Content includes an emphasis on informed choice counseling, new lessons on calculating the injection date and conducting follow-up visits, and updated information on training clients to self-inject.

In addition to the eLearning course, PATH and JSI have developed short 5- to 7-minute DMPA-SC training videos for both self-injection clients and health workers. Available in English and French, the videos can be translated or adapted to fit in program contexts.

If you are interested in introducing DMPA-SC digital training approaches in your program, please contact the Access Collaborative at FPoptions@path.org.

This brief details the strong body of evidence and experience with self-injection of DMPA-SC in low-resource settings, including how the practice can reduce access-related barriers, improve contraceptive continuation, and enhance women’s autonomy.

This guidance aims to provide a people-centred, evidence-based normative guideline that will support individuals, communities, and countries with quality health services and self-care interventions, based on PHC strategies, comprehensive essential service packages and people-centredness. The guidance includes a “strong” recommendation for self-administered injectable contraception, stating that this should be made available as an additional approach to deliver injectable contraception for individuals of reproductive age.

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

As part of the Global Health Science and Practice (GHTechX) conference, CHAI, FHI 360, PATH, the Population Council, PSI, and WCG hosted an April 22, 2021 session to synthesize lessons learned across contraceptive introduction of implants, DMPA-SC self-injection, hormonal IUS and other methods. During the session, experts from Kenya, Madagascar, Uganda, and the United States outlined essential steps for the process of contraceptive product introduction, described common challenges, and shared tools and approaches based on experiences with the three methods. Session slides are available below. To watch the recording of this and many other sessions, register for free on the GHTechX website.

This progress report summarizes the work of the DMPA-SC Consortium, a group of public, private, and philanthropic entities that coordinate global support for scale up of DMPA-SC as a contraceptive option in FP2020 countries.

In this session from the Making Self-Injection Count workshop, presenters discussed challenges to data use for decision-making and shared examples of how countries and programs have made data actionable in other health areas, specifically Malaria and immunization. The presentation included an example of an application of routine family planning data, including a new analysis of self-injection data from Senegal, and wrapped up with a panel Q&A focused on solutions.

Objectives

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

• Understand key principles for fostering data use for decision-making.
• Understand how countries and programs have used routine health data for decision-making.
• Identify strategies to overcome challenges to data use.
• Consider data quality and understand how it can be evaluated.

Key takeaways

• Better data will lead to better decision-making and better health outcomes.
• Data should:
  • be subjected to quality audits.
  • be delivered in a form that works for each intended audience and in alignment with their goals.
  • be shared with those who contributed the data and who have control over how services are offered.
  • include visualizations that effectively convey key details.
  • be iterative and ongoing.
• There is a need for standardized metrics that allow for comparability among countries.

Presenters

• Jonathan Drummey, Data Visualization Specialist, PATH
• Fred Njobvu, Technical Advisor, Center for Digital & Data Excellence, PATH
• Marie-Reign Rutagwera, Strategic Information Advisor, PAMO Plus, PATH
• Jessica Williamson, Data Analyst, Track20 Project, Avenir Health

This document was created to support ministry of health and nongovernmental partners as they develop strategies to introduce and scale up subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC, brand name Sayana® Press) to increase contraceptive options and access. Available in English and French, the publication provides practical guidance based on results, evidence, and learning from the pilot introductions of DMPA-SC in four countries in Africa.

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.