Negotiating the User Journey towards Contraceptive Self-Empowerment: A Case for Dmpa-Sc Self-Injection.

Oluwaseun Adeleke, Society for Family Health
Michael Titus, Society for Family Health
Anthony Nwala, SOCIETY FOR FAMILY HEALTH,NIGERIA
Mopelola Raji, Society for Family Health
Fidelis Edet, Society for Family Health

Introduction The need to amplify the woman’s voice above all other influences is imperative in Nigeria because of high mortality rates. DMPA-SC Self-injection (SI) is becoming the cornerstone of contraceptive self-care and holds the potential for women to take control of their reproductive health. Methodology To obtain insight into the influences that interfere with a woman’s capacity to make contraceptive choices independently, the Delivering Innovations in Selfcare (DISC) project conducted two intensive rounds of cross-sectional qualitative data collection and triangulation. Findings Women increasingly independently seek services to prevent a deterioration of their economic situation and achieve personal ambitions. The option of DMPA-SC self-injection reinforces a women’s independence in contexts not overtly disagreeable. Covert users in contexts dominated by non-supportive social norms will rather not take the commodity home for fear of being discovered. Conclusion This paper recommends context specific considerations required to support a covert user’s self-injection of DMPA-SC.