Based on evidence and experience, countries worldwide are adding the option of DMPA-SC self-injection to their contraceptive method mix.
Self-injection has the potential to reduce access-related barriers for women, increase contraceptive continuation rates, and enhance women’s autonomy. There are strong data that women, including women in low-resource settings, can self-administer DMPA-SC safely and effectively, and that they like doing so.
In this Making Self-Injection Count workshop session, participants were engaged in a lively discussion and interactive collaboration around the important considerations for private sector data collection and reporting on self-care products such as DMPA-SC. This session began with a short presentation to set the stage on the important role of private sector and data within the context of mixed health systems. Participants joined a moderated discussion with three in-country implementers from Nigeria (DKT), Uganda (PSI) and Zambia (JSI) who shared their experiences and lessons from introducing DMPA SC self-injection and other self-care products through private delivery channels. The session concluded with a facilitated, interactive activity to identify and prioritize private sector data needs.
Objectives
By the end of the session, participants were able to:
Key takeaways
Presenters
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc.
Publication date: March, 2021
Participants in this Making Self-Injection Count workshop session learned about interim data sources for self-injection data, including Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) surveys, demographic and health surveys (DHS) surveys, and low-resource, short-term auxiliary data collection systems. This session also highlighted efforts made to collect and use family planning data in humanitarian settings. Presenters addressed general timelines for data access in different countries and evaluated differences in indicators across data sets.
Objectives
By the end of the session, participants were able to:
Key takeaways
Presenters
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc.
Publication date: March, 2021
This session wrapped up the Making Self-Injection Count workshop and highlighted key takeaways. Participants had an opportunity to reflect on what they learned and the action steps they have identified to move forward with their work.
Key takeaways
The workshop closed with four calls to action:
Presenter
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc.
Publication date: March, 2021
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:
Key takeaways
Presenters
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc.
Publication date: March, 2021
In this practical, hands-on simulated data use session in the Making Self-Injection Count workshop, participants first learned about experiences running data review meetings in Kenya and Tanzania, highlighting lessons learned and best practices. Then they practiced skills using a mock decision-support tool to solve a common self-injection data challenge.
Objectives
By the end of the session, participants were able to:
Key takeaways
Presenters
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc.
Publication date: March, 2021
This session of the Making Self-Injection Count workshop took an advocacy lens to highlight the importance of self-injection data. Representatives from the Government of Malawi—which has included self-injection in their HMIS since 2019—shared an overview of their self-injection program, highlighting the process for updating their HMIS including success and challenges. They also highlighted how self-injection data has been used at the national and district program levels. Participants had an opportunity to ask questions during the question and answer session.
Objectives
By the end of this session, participants were able to:
Key takeaways
Presenters
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc., Malawi Ministry of Health, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
Publication date: March, 2021
This Making Self-Injection Count workshop session provided an overview of self-injection indicators across countries and how those can be integrated into HMIS/LMIS systems and analyzed to answer programmatic and research questions. Stories from Uganda and Nigeria highlighted common challenges in integrating self-injection indicators into these systems. Breakout rooms at the end of the session allowed participants to discuss and receive suggestions and feedback on their own HMIS/LMIS integration efforts through peer-to-peer conversations.
Objectives
By the end of this session, participants were able to:
Key takeaways
Presenters
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc.
Publication date: March, 2021
This opening plenary of the Making Self-Injection Count workshop highlighted how self-injection data can help close the gender data gap by providing key information and insights on the experiences of women and adolescents. Presenters discussed how self-injection can contribute to contraceptive autonomy by enabling women and girls to make and actualize their own decisions. The session featured personal stories from a self-injection ambassador, self-injection provider, and self-injection client.
Objectives
By the end of this session, participants were able to:
Key takeaways
Presenters
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc.
Publication date: March, 2021
By leveraging digital training tools, family planning programs can integrate new approaches that help reduce the costs, time, and inconvenience associated with traditional classroom training. The PATH-JSI Access Collaborative has 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 for free 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.
Institutional Author(s): PATH, JSI, Inc.
Publication date: 2020
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.
Institutional Author(s): PATH
Publication date: October, 2019