Did you know that, 43 percent of pregnancies in Kenya are unplanned? This can be greatly attributed to challenges such as poor infrastructure, high cost of living and information.
Self-care options like DMPA-SC commonly known as the Sayana Press has the potential of removing such barriers, therefore contributing towards the achievement of universal healthcare coverage.
Sayana press is the only existing self-injectable contraception, it is administered on the anterior thighs and on the abdomen avoiding the navel.
It should be used with a condom to prevent HIV/STIs. Some of its advantages include, it’s a 3 monthly uniject pre-filled and ready to inject it’s discrete, reversible, and has less side effects compared to other injectable contraceptives.
The World Health Organization reports that the sayana press has a 99 percent success rate. The common side- effects are irregular periods, amenorrhea and mood changes.
It is important to note that not all contraceptives are convenient for all women. Therefore introduction of a wide range of contraceptives, increases women’s choices therefore empowering them to take charge of their sexual reproductive health leading to positive reproductive and economic gains.
As such, Sayana Press is part of the Sexual reproductive health self-care option for sexually active adolescent girls and young women from marginalized, and vulnerable population who face unique barriers in accessing SRHR services.
Sayana press is meant to ease the overwhelmed and overburdened healthcare system in Kenya. It promotes privacy, confidentiality and reduces stigma and discrimination.
It will contribute to the reduction of 13000 teenage pregnancies, and the 1237 deaths from unsafe occurring annually (APHRC, 2014).
Currently some counties have inadequate contraceptive supply including condoms and lubes, Depo-Provera and IUCDs.
For Kenya to achieve the 2030 Family Planning commitments of reducing the unmet needs for contraceptives; the government of Kenya through KEMSA and the Ministry of Health should ensure commodity security for not only Sayana Press but also other contraceptives.
The World Health Organization(WHO) rolled out its first consolidated guidelines on sexual reproductive health and rights self-care in 2019, currently in Kenya, there is no a specific SRHR self-care policy despite emerging issues such as task-shifting, telehealth and introduction of commodities like HIV self-testing. Both the state and non-state actors should ensure SRHR self-care policy is developed to promote favorable policy and legal environment for the delivery of self-care options like sayana press.
John Mbugua is a Youth Peer Provider at Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) trained on Sayana Press and Ritah Anindo is the Youth Project Coordinator RHNK
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