Depo Provera boosts family planning in villages
Nov 07, 2005
<b>Jennifer Austin</b><br><br>A recent study indicates that community-based provision of Depo Provera, an injectable contraceptive, is as effective as clinical distribution.
Jennifer Austin
A recent study indicates that community-based provision of Depo Provera, an injectable contraceptive, is as effective as clinical distribution.
The study, which states that Depo Provera is an increasingly popular method of contraception in Africa, was designed to see if allowing community based service providers to distribute Depo Provera was a safe way to increase access to the drug for women with limited access to clinic facilities.
Because Depo Provera is given as an injection, those administering it must be properly trained to ensure the injection is done safely.
The study conducted by Family Health International in conjunction with Save The Children/USA, Uganda’s Ministry of Health and Nakasongola District's Local Government compared the quality of care and services provided in local clinics with the care and services provided by CRHWs. Twenty CRHWs in Nakasongola district were trained in injection techniques and educated about Depo Provera for the study.
The research shows that woman receiving Depo Provera from CRHWs were just as likely to receive their second injection as woman who attended clinics and were as satisfied with the quality of care received. Because women must get an injection every three months, continuation of treatment was considered an important indicator of the success of the distribution.
The study found that levels of counselling and quality of information given to the clients about Depo Provera was essentially the same while clinic patients were better informed about alternative family planning options.
The report notes that the levels of education about the possible side effects of Depo Provera and alternative contraceptive measures were disappointingly low among all participants in the study.
The active ingredient of Depo Provera is depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA).
DMPA acts like the hormone progesterone and prevents the release of another hormone called gonadotropin.
Without gonadotropin the ovary does not release an egg, making pregnancy impossible. DMPA also causes a change in the uterine lining making pregnancy less likely even if an egg is released. Depo Provera is administered in a 150 milligram injectable dose every 3 months.
The drug is reported to be 97-99.7% effective as a contraceptive.
Depo Provera is a highly effective contraceptive but does not protect against HIV/AIDS or any other sexually transmitted diseases.
Depo Provera has been linked to decreases in calcium levels in bone, therefore it is not recommended for younger women who are still growing or for use for longer than 2 years.
The writer is a journalist
A recent study indicates that community-based provision of Depo Provera, an injectable contraceptive, is as effective as clinical distribution.
The study, which states that Depo Provera is an increasingly popular method of contraception in Africa, was designed to see if allowing community based service providers to distribute Depo Provera was a safe way to increase access to the drug for women with limited access to clinic facilities.
Because Depo Provera is given as an injection, those administering it must be properly trained to ensure the injection is done safely.
The study conducted by Family Health International in conjunction with Save The Children/USA, Uganda’s Ministry of Health and Nakasongola District's Local Government compared the quality of care and services provided in local clinics with the care and services provided by CRHWs. Twenty CRHWs in Nakasongola district were trained in injection techniques and educated about Depo Provera for the study.
The research shows that woman receiving Depo Provera from CRHWs were just as likely to receive their second injection as woman who attended clinics and were as satisfied with the quality of care received. Because women must get an injection every three months, continuation of treatment was considered an important indicator of the success of the distribution.
The study found that levels of counselling and quality of information given to the clients about Depo Provera was essentially the same while clinic patients were better informed about alternative family planning options.
The report notes that the levels of education about the possible side effects of Depo Provera and alternative contraceptive measures were disappointingly low among all participants in the study.
The active ingredient of Depo Provera is depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA).
DMPA acts like the hormone progesterone and prevents the release of another hormone called gonadotropin.
Without gonadotropin the ovary does not release an egg, making pregnancy impossible. DMPA also causes a change in the uterine lining making pregnancy less likely even if an egg is released. Depo Provera is administered in a 150 milligram injectable dose every 3 months.
The drug is reported to be 97-99.7% effective as a contraceptive.
Depo Provera is a highly effective contraceptive but does not protect against HIV/AIDS or any other sexually transmitted diseases.
Depo Provera has been linked to decreases in calcium levels in bone, therefore it is not recommended for younger women who are still growing or for use for longer than 2 years.
The writer is a journalist