From Awareness to Autonomy: Exploring the Knowledge Gap and Acceptability of Self-Injectable DMPA-SC among Women in
Anita Yadav1, Anusha Kamath1, Jyoti Baghel2
1Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
Background:
Self-administered subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) provides a novel contraceptive modality that can expand access, autonomy, and continuation rates, especially among low-resource populations. While endorsed worldwide, the use and awareness of DMPA-SC in India remain undocumented.
Objectives:
To assess awareness, acceptability, and willingness toward self-administration of DMPA-SC among married women of reproductive age in central India.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 320 women aged 18-49 years at a tertiary hospital in central India. Data were collected through pretested questionnaires assessing sociodemographic factors, contraceptive history, knowledge of intramuscular DMPA (DMPA-IM) and DMPA-SC, and willingness for self-injection.
Results:
While 90% had heard of DMPA-IM, no participant had heard of DMPA-SC before. Despite this, 78% showed interest in learning about DMPA-SC and were ready to self-administer after demonstration (62.5%). The most prominent motivators were saving time (37.5%) and decreasing travel expenses (18.8%). Barriers for using DMPA were fear of side effects and myths like infertility or chances of abortion.
Conclusion:
DMPA-SC awareness does not exist among women in central India, but acceptability for self-injection is high when accompanied by education. Inclusion within India's family planning basket, combined with systematic training for community health workers and information, education, and communication interventions, can increase contraceptive accessibility and autonomy.
Related Concept Videos
Intrauterine Drug Delivery Systems
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Drug Delivery: Overview
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the gastrointestinal...
Non-Oral Extravascular Drug Absorption Routes
Lipophilic drugs that are stable at salivary pH (6) and exhibit minimal binding to the oral mucosa are absorbed more effectively...
Nondepolarizing (Competitive) Neuromuscular Blockers: Pharmacokinetics
Instead, they are transported by the blood to different tissues. Muscles with a greater blood supply (arteries) and blood flow receive more...
Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral
The intravenous route (IV) of drug administration can be further categorized into two types. The bolus injection administers the entire dose rapidly, while an intravenous infusion slowly delivers smaller doses steadily.
The IV route is often...
