Expanding Access to long acting Family Planning Services in a Government Tertiary Health Facility through Provision of Injectable Contraception

Introduction:National Family Health Survey-III (2005-06) reveals that one in five births are either mistimed or unwanted resulting from inadequate or incorrect contraceptive use. There is need to expand the basket of choice in Family Planning which ensures more privacy to women. A government Tertiary Facility, JN Medical College, took initiative and expanded the basket of long acting family planning methods with the injectable contraceptive depot-medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA).   This method is increasing being one of the preferred choices among urban slum women. The increase in number of private provider providing DMPA has increased its accessibility and uptake by women.

Methodology: The Government Tertiary Health facility planned and showed willingness to add Provision of injectable contraception to be provided to clients. This was supported by availability of social marketed Injectable contraception & counselling at facility & community level.

Results: The number of client accepting this method acceptor of this method has increased from 88 in 2010 to 383 in 2013. Because of the confidence of Medical College, the other medical private medical practitioners are providing services and DMPA users increased from 276 in 2010 to 1684 in 2013.

Conclusion: The study finds that Injectable contraceptive has significant acceptability among the women of Urban Slums. It appears that injectable contraceptive have an important place among family planning methods. With increased accessibility and acceptance at the Government level, counseling at facility and community level and follow up of the clients, Injectable contraceptive has the potential to emerge an important family planning method.