Patient experiences switching from in-clinic to self-administration of injectable contraception in two Western US states.
Perspect Sex Reprod Health
; 2024 Jul 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38965382
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
We describe the experiences and preferences of women who switched from clinic-administered intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) to self-administered subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS:
We conducted interviews with women in California and Washington about their experiences with self-administered DMPA-SC. We interviewed women after their first or second self-administered DMPA-SC injection and conducted follow-up interviews after their third or fourth injection. We performed both thematic and descriptive content analyses.RESULTS:
We completed 29 interviews with 15 women. Most participants (n = 10) were between the ages of 20 and 39 and the majority (n = 12) used DMPA primarily for contraception. Most (n = 13) described self-administered DMPA-SC as "very easy" or "somewhat easy" to use and reported greater convenience, decreased pain, fewer logistical and financial challenges, increased privacy, and improved comfort with injection compared to DMPA-IM. Participants identified difficulties obtaining DMPA-SC from pharmacies and safe needle disposal as barriers. Most (n = 13) would recommend DMPA-SC to a friend and desired to continue self-administration beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants recommended counseling all patients about this option alongside other contraceptive methods, and offering clinician supervision, if desired.CONCLUSION:
Women who switched from in-clinic DMPA-IM to self-administered DMPA-SC during the COVID-19 pandemic preferred the latter and intended to continue self-administration. Self-administration of DMPA-SC should be routinely offered and easily accessible to patients.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article