Background/Significance: Despite efforts geared toward improving the reproductive health status of women In Nigeria, the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPr) is still very low at 12.0% (NDHS2018). The Society for Family Health in partnership Federal Ministry of Health leveraged the CHiPs program in Nasarawa State to drive the DMPA-SC and improve the uptake of modern contraceptive methods among women in Nigeria. This explored the role of the CHiPs program in Scaling up DMPA-SC and self-injection.
Program intervention/activity tested: Medically inclined CHiPs agents (CHEWs, CHWs, etc.) were recruited and trained on the administration of DMPA-SC. They were also exposed to empathy-based counseling skills to increase their confidence and capacity to effectively coach women to overcome fears of pain and lack of self-efficacy. In our bid to ensure sustainability, we introduced the seed-stock strategy and leveraged the revolving funds from the seed stock to sustain the program. The profit made from the seed stock serves as means of motivation for the agents.
Results/key findings: Through this CHIPs model, a total of 3,202 women have been reached with sexual and reproductive health messages and have taken up the DMPA-SC. Nearly half of these women are currently self-injectors (42%). Since its inception, the program has been able to avert 280 unintended pregnancies and 672 disability-adjusted life years; we've also provided 801 couple-year protections.
Lessons Learnt: The use of existing community structures especially in rural areas has the propensity to increase the reach of sexual and reproductive health messages and uptake of DMPA-SC/SI. There is a need for the government to take ownership of this model, leveraging on the revolving fund from the seed stock as a means of incentivizing the CHiPs agents.
