DMPA-SC stock: Cross-site trends by facility type

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Global Health
• Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management

Background:

• The introduction of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) aimed to expand contraceptive access.
• Monitoring its supply chain is crucial for ensuring continued availability of modern contraceptive methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess trends in the availability of DMPA-SC across public and private health facilities in six sub-Saharan African countries.
• To compare DMPA-SC supply trends with other prominent modern contraceptive methods.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of repeated cross-sectional data from service delivery point surveys between 2016 and 2020.
• Examined DMPA-SC availability (percentage of facilities offering) and stockouts.
• Compared trends with DMPA-intramuscular (DMPA-IM), IUDs, implants, and other short-acting methods.

Main Results:

• DMPA-SC offering increased in both public and private facilities across all settings.
• Public facilities offered DMPA-SC more frequently than private facilities.
• DMPA-SC availability was comparable to implants and IUDs but lower than DMPA-IM; stock consistency varied significantly by country and facility type.

Conclusions:

• While DMPA-SC availability is growing, significant stock gaps remain.
• Countries should monitor DMPA-SC supply and explore innovative distribution strategies to minimize disruptions in contraceptive use.