Topics: Community health workers, Family planning

Region and Country: Uganda

This study compared the safety and quality of contraceptive injections given by community-based health workers with those given by clinic-based nurses in a rural Nakasongola District, Uganda. A nonrandomized community trial compared provision of injectable Depo Provera (DMPA) by community reproductive health workers with routine DPMA provision at health units. Ninety-five percent of CHW clients were "satisfied" or "highly satisfied" with services. There were no serious injection site problems in either group. Similarly, there was no significant difference between continuation to second injection, nor were there significant differences in other measures of safety, acceptability and quality. This research reinforces experience from other regions suggesting that well-trained CHWs can safely provide contraceptive injections.