Lessons learnt from the introduction of the contraceptive implant in South Africa
In 2014, South Africa (SA) introduced the subdermal contraceptive implant with the aim of expanding the contraceptive method mix and availability of long-acting reversible methods in the public sector. Three years on, concerns have been raised about the decline in uptake, early implant removals and...
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Published in | South African medical journal Vol. 107; no. 11; pp. 933 - 938 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
South Africa
Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
01.11.2017
Health & Medical Publishing Group South African Medical Association |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | In 2014, South Africa (SA) introduced the subdermal contraceptive implant with the aim of expanding the contraceptive method mix and availability of long-acting reversible methods in the public sector. Three years on, concerns have been raised about the decline in uptake, early implant removals and challenges in service delivery. This article explores the lessons learnt from the introduction of contraceptive technologies elsewhere and applies these to the SA context. Drawing on the World Health Organization’s conceptual framework for the introduction of new contraceptive methods, and subsequent literature on the topic, lessons are classified into six cross-cutting themes. Recommendations highlight the need for SA to review and explore strategies to strengthen current implant services, including the provision of improved provider training aimed at sensitive, client-centred approaches; increased community engagement; and improved systems for programmatic monitoring and evaluation. With implementation of these recommendations, worrying trends in the provision of implants could be reversed. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 content type line 23 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 |
ISSN: | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
DOI: | 10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i11.12805 |