DMPA-SC self-injection experiences of clients and providers in Uganda the role of community health workers in reproductive self-care service delivery

Authors: Jane Cover, Allen Namagembe, Barbara Kunihira, Cecilia Nantume, Andrew Secor, Fiona Walugembe

This study in Uganda looked at how community health workers (CHWs) compare to clinic workers in providing family planning counseling and training women to self-inject contraceptives. Interviews with 240 clients and 80 providers showed that many women were interested in self-injection, and CHWs often gave better counseling and training than clinic workers. CHWs were more likely to offer private, clear, and supportive training. While most providers supported self-injection, many wanted restrictions for certain groups like adolescents or new users. The study shows that with proper training and support, CHWs can play a big role in expanding access to family planning, especially in hard-to-reach areas.