In a recent Knowledge Success post, Council researchers from the Evidence Project highlight lessons learned from research in Ghana on the expansion of access to DMPA-SC, an injectable contraceptive with a self-injection option. Injectables are among the most popular contraceptive methods in sub-Saharan Africa.
While improper disposal in pit latrines or open spaces remains a barrier to safely scaling this highly effective method, the authors underscore that with education on safe disposal and provision of appropriate containers, self-injection clients enrolled in a pilot study in Ghana were able to appropriately store and dispose of DMPA-SC.
These results offered evidence for the Ghana Health Service to include provision of safe disposal containers in nation-wide scale up plans for home-based self-injection, with important implications for other countries seeking to expand access while addressing safety and ecological hazards.
Read more in Knowledge Success from the Council’s Elizabeth Tobey, Katey Peck, Dela Nai, Leah Jarvis, and Michelle Hindin.