October 2022 — This script for facility- and community-based health providers to counsel family planning clients on injectable contraception was developed and tested in southern Malawi. While self-care interventions, including DMPA-SC self-injection, can increase choice and autonomy, they must be accessible, acceptable and affordable. Because the uptake of self-injectable contraceptive methods has been lower than anticipated in Malawi, FHI 360 co-developed a counseling script with the Malawi Ministry of Health, private and public sector family planning providers, and family planning clients — with funding from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. The script was developed to help health providers address user-centered concerns about self-injection and provides information about the two injectable contraceptives available in Malawi: intramuscular DMPA and provider-administered and self-injected subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC). Client uptake of self-injection increased in public sector facilities in Mangochi and Thyolo districts after family planning providers began using the script in their counseling.
The script is available in English and Chichewa.
