Benefits, anxieties, acceptance, and barriers to the new injectable contraceptive DMPA-SC (Sayana Press): Clients’ perceptions in Sindh, Pakistan

Background: Injections are Pakistan's third most preferred contraceptive method because of their convenience. They represent a 2.5% share of the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) and contribute 10% to the current CPR. However, injections require a clinical setting or a healthcare provider for administration. A new method of subcutaneous presentation of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC), namely Sayana Press in Uniject™, has been introduced, which can be administered in nonclinical settings or self-administered by trained women. This study examined clients’ perceptions of the current depot medroxyprogesterone acetate-intramuscular injection (DMPA-IM) and its accessibility, availability, affordability, advantages, and disadvantages. In addition, it explored the benefits, barriers, and challenges regarding the new method of DMPA-SC (Sayana Press), especially considering self-injection. Methods: The study was conducted in Sindh, Pakistan. Three focus group discussions were conducted with 9–13 female participants with different demographic characteristics. A semi-structured questionnaire was used. The discussion was recorded, transcribed, and translated from Urdu or Sindhi to English. Transcripts were coded precisely, and data analysis was performed using NVivo software. Results: Participants expressed moderate fear of self-injection and risk of an inaccurate prick, suggesting that DMPA-SC acceptance may not be challenging at a community level. They appreciated free services at public health facilities, as the affordability of private facilities may be challenging for those with low income. Most participants agreed to pay PKR 50–300 (approximately 1 USD or less) as service charges for a private facility, while some agreed to pay for transportation costs when lacking alternative methods. Conclusions: DMPA-SC is a valuable alternative, provided its challenges are adequately addressed. Information about self-injection contraceptives is currently limited, and shared self-administration may be difficult without adequate training and counseling. Nevertheless, clients prefer the self-injection method for family planning to avoid transportation and private service charges.