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 convenient.
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. 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.
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.
