Community Based Distribution of Injectable Contraceptives in Tigray, Ethiopia

University of California, Berkeley1,062 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that with appropriate training, the provision of injectable contraceptives by community based reproductive health agents (CBRHAs) does not significantly differ from low-level clinic-based providers, or health extension workers (HEWs).

The overall goal of this project was to increase contraceptive prevalence and reduce the current high unmet need for family planning in rural areas of Ethiopia. In addition, the project was intended to provide evidence to policy makers to expand community based distribution (CBD) of the injectible contraceptive, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), in both Tigray and other regions of Ethiopia where community based reproductive health agents (CBRHAs) or other community health workers (CHWs) are present. Following from that, the specific aims of this project were to: * Provide evidence that CBRHAs can safely and effectively distribute and facilitate supply of DMPA to rural women * Demonstrate that CBRHAs can deliver DMPA with the same safety, effectiveness, and acceptability outcomes as HEWs * Increase access to DMPA by using CBRHAs

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

1,062

Conditions

Contraception Family Planning Task Shifting Community Based Distribution DMPA

Interventions

Community Based administration of DMPAOTHER

Injectable contraceptive administered by clinic based health extension worker or community based reproductive health agent using same protocol to test equivalence of community based distribution to facility based distribution

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * All adult women of reproductive age who approached a provider for a contraceptive method and wished to use DMPA were recruited to participate in the study * Medically eligible to use injectable contraceptives Exclusion Criteria: * Health problems preventing or counter-indications for use of hormonal contraceptives * Suspicion of pregancy * FHI validated check list of eligibility use injectable contraceptives * Minors age \<18 years old

Locations (3)

Kola Tembien District Health Bureau

Kola Tembien, Tigray, Ethiopia

Tigray Regional Health Bureau

Mek'ele, Tigray, Ethiopia

Tanqua Aberguel District Health Bureau

Tanqua Aberguel, Tigray, Ethiopia

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Equivalence of injection administration

Injection site morbidities, induration etc

Time frame: every 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

Equivalent continuation rates

Follow up injection rates at 2nd and 3rd injection.

Time frame: Every 3 months

Knowledge of side effects among clients

The clients understand the efficacy, the drug usage, side effects and recourse for care if side effects manifest at 13 week and 6 month questionnaire

Time frame: Every 3 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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