Advancing Self-Care for Women in IDP Camps in Borno State

Contraceptives in Borno State are currently provided at Labour Wards, antenatal care (ANC) units, or family planning (FP) units. However, being seen visiting the Family Planning Unit has a risk of being exposed to the husband. This in turn delays women’s uptake of contraceptives, affecting their contraceptive coverage. It is possible to expand self-managed contraceptive distribution to CHIPs (community health workers) and PPMVs (drug shop owners). However, during a recently conducted knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study in Borno State in November 2023, there were gaps observed in the ability of PPMVs to conduct quality screenings and counseling. This concern is also shared by clients who do not prefer getting contraceptives from PPMVs and CHIPs as they can neither examine their bodies to tell which contraceptive suits them nor help them with initiating contraceptive use or resolving doubts.

The SRH team sees an opportunity to bring to Gwoza - the Family Planning (FP) Eligibility Card designed for girls in Uganda under the She Cares project. The FP Eligibility Card is a contraceptive eligibility card marked with all methods that the client can simply ask for, without needing or providing any additional information. Clients receive their personal FP Eligibility Card after being screened and educated by health workers. Through the FP Eligibility Card, they may get self-managed contraceptives from a diverse range of distribution points by simply pointing at any of the self-managed contraception they are eligible for - with no further screening or counseling required!

This project will focus on testing the desirability and impact of the FP Eligibility Card and other prototypes that enhance access to and ease of self-management of contraceptive needs.