Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) in Malawi play a key role in expanding contraceptive access in rural areas. The Ndingathe intervention was designed to improve outreach by addressing HSA workflow challenges and enhancing self-injection counseling through a mnemonic and peer support from experienced users. During a six-month pilot, Ndingathe increased outreach clinic … [Read more...] about Feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a human-centered design-derived intervention to improve community health workers’ contraception outreach in rural Malawi
Contraception
Capacity-Building Through Digital Approaches: Evaluating the Feasibility and Effectiveness of eLearning to Introduce Subcutaneous DMPA Self-Injection in Senegal and Uganda
Training health workers on new contraceptive methods can be costly and challenging. To address this, PATH created an online course to teach family planning providers in Senegal and Uganda how to offer a self-injection contraceptive option, DMPA-SC. This digital course includes 10 lessons on topics like informed choice and self-injection training. Rolled out in 2019-2020, the … [Read more...] about Capacity-Building Through Digital Approaches: Evaluating the Feasibility and Effectiveness of eLearning to Introduce Subcutaneous DMPA Self-Injection in Senegal and Uganda
Documenting the Provision of Emergency Contraceptive Pills Through Youth-Serving Delivery Channels: Exploratory Mixed Methods Research on Malawi’s Emergency Contraception Strategy
Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are effective and can be used safely, but they are underused, especially among youth. In 2020, Malawi's Ministry of Health developed a strategy to improve ECP access through public channels like youth clubs and community health workers (CHWs). A study in two rural districts found that ECP use increased, particularly among young people, with … [Read more...] about Documenting the Provision of Emergency Contraceptive Pills Through Youth-Serving Delivery Channels: Exploratory Mixed Methods Research on Malawi’s Emergency Contraception Strategy
Condom use increased after a peer group intervention implemented by community volunteers in Malawi
HIV prevention is crucial, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study developed an HIV prevention program called Mzake ndi Mzake (Friend to Friend), adapted for community implementation. The study evaluated if the program, led by community volunteers, increased condom use in rural Malawi. The program was rolled out in three communities, and effectiveness was assessed using … [Read more...] about Condom use increased after a peer group intervention implemented by community volunteers in Malawi
“Even things they won’t share with their sisters-in-law” – Assessing an integrated Community Health Worker intervention on person-centered postpartum contraception in rural Nepal
Postpartum contraceptive counseling and access are challenging in Nepal’s remote, hilly areas, leading to a high unmet need for contraception. Community health workers (CHWs) are crucial in these regions, but the best model for their use is unclear. A pilot program in two rural Nepalese districts employed full-time, salaried, and supervised CHWs to deliver a reproductive, … [Read more...] about “Even things they won’t share with their sisters-in-law” – Assessing an integrated Community Health Worker intervention on person-centered postpartum contraception in rural Nepal
