A research organization, Akena Plus Health, has clarified misunderstandings about the Depot-Medroxyprogesterone Acetate-Sub Cutaneous (DMPA-SC) contraceptive method and other family planning options causing infertility. The organization encourages Nigerian women and girls to consider various contraceptive methods, including DMPA-SC, to promote health, convenient child spacing, and prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Akena Plus Health Trust shared this information during a dissemination event in Enugu. The event aimed to highlight the outcomes of the Innovation for Choice and Autonomy research program. The Programs Manager for the ICAN project, Mrs. Chioma Okoli, emphasized the importance of family planning, particularly with DMPA-SC, in Enugu State.
The ICAN project, which ran for four years starting in 2019 across four African countries, including Nigeria, focused on providing evidence-based data to support the national expansion of DMPA-SC for self-injection. The research involved collaboration with key partners in the public and private health sectors to assess the quality of care and support for women using DMPA-SC.
The study conducted interviews with over 400 women and healthcare providers to gather insights into contraceptive experiences and service delivery quality. Key findings were discussed by the Programs Officer, Ms. Aminat Tijani, and the Family Planning coordinator for Enugu State, Mrs. Maureen Nwankwo, highlighted the positive impact of DMPA-SC in the region.
The family planning supervisor for Ezeagu Local Government Area, Mrs. Celine Idoko, emphasized the importance of informed family planning decisions to ensure responsible parenthood and child spacing. She noted a shift towards conscious family planning choices to provide better care for children.