Self-Injectable Contraceptive called Depo-Subcutaneous has stood out as the favorite family planning method for most young women in Mangochi due to what they described as its efficiency and confidentiality.
This was revealed during a monitoring visit by the Director of Reproductive Health Directorate (RHD) – Fanny Kachale, and the Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services – Tulipoka Soko at Monkey Bay Community Hospital. The exercise was conducted to monitor the progress of the rolling out of Depo Subcutaneous – a family planning method that requires injection into the muscles, and it encourages self-injection.
According to one Health Surveillance Assistant from the target area, a lot of young women have shown preference for this method because it is more confidential, thereby ensuring convenience.
Mangochi is one of seven districts – including Thyolo, Nkhotakota, Salima, Machinga, Mzimba South and Mzimba North – in which Depo-Subcutaneous is being rolled out.
However, Mangochi was specifically selected due to low uptake – 31 percent – of family planning methods by women of child bearing age.
YONECO is supporting Malawi government in rolling out the Depo-Subcutaneous method in 6 Traditional Authorities within Mangochi district: Mponda, Chowe, Chimwala, Nankumba, Makanjira and Namavi.
With financial support from Children Investment Fund Foundation through FHI 360, YONECO has so far oriented Health Surveillance Assistants and provided them with smart phones for real-time reporting.
