Jennifer Kidwell Drake

Sociocultural Issues in the Introduction of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine in Low-Resource Settings

OBJECTIVES (1) To synthesize sociocultural results from diverse populations related to vaccine decision-making, understanding of cervical cancer and its etiology, experience with previous vaccinations, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine concerns, and information needed to foster acceptance; (2) to contextualize findings in light of recent studies; and (3) to discuss implications for communication strategies to facilitate vaccine acceptance. DESIGN Descriptive qualitative synthesis of sociocultural studies in 4 countries using iterative theme-based analyses. SETTING Four developing countries: India, Peru, Uganda, and Vietnam. PARTICIPANTS Criterion-based sample of 252 focus-group discussions and 470 in-depth interviews with children, parents, teachers/administrators, health workers/managers, and community/religious leaders. A knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey was administered to 879 children and 875 parents in Vietnam. RESULTS We found that vaccine decision-making was primarily done by parents, with children having some role. Understanding of cervical cancer and HPV was limited; however, the gravity of cancer and some symptoms of cervical cancer were recognized. Vaccination and government-sponsored immunization programs were generally supported by respondents. Sentiments toward cervical cancer vaccines were positive, but concerns about quality of delivery, safety, adverse effects, and the effect on fertility were raised. Communities requested comprehensive awareness-raising and health education to address these concerns. CONCLUSION Sociocultural studies help elucidate the complexities of introducing a new vaccine from the perspective of children, parents, and communities. Strategies for introducing the HPV vaccine should address community concerns through effective communication, appropriate delivery, and targeted advocacy to make the program locally relevant.

Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of self-injection of subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) in Senegal: a prospective cohort study

Objectives Expanding contraceptive options through self-injection may improve access and confidentiality. There are few published studies on contraceptive self-injection in sub-Saharan Africa and none in West Africa, a region with high unmet need. This study was performed to assess feasibility of subcutaneous DMPA self-injection in Senegal; objectives were to (1) measure the proportion of participants who self-injected competently 3 months after training, (2) measure the proportion who self-injected on time (defined conservatively as within 7 days of reinjection date), and (3) assess acceptability of self-injection. Study design In this prospective cohort study, 378 women aged 18–49 years were trained to self-inject by study nurses. Three months later, women returned unprompted to the clinic to self-inject, and technique and visit timing were evaluated. Women continuing with a third self-injection were followed up at home after their next scheduled injection date. At each interaction, participants were interviewed to learn about their experience; additional questions during the final home visit focused on storage and disposal practices, and acceptability. Results Among the 337 participants followed up 3 months post-training, 310 self-injected, and 87% did so competently. Factoring in women who declined to self-inject, electing to have the provider administer the injection instead, a total of 80% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 75–84%] self-injected competently 3 months post-training, and 84% [95% CI=80–88%] reinjected on time, while 72% [95% CI=67–77%] were both on time and competent. The vast majority (93%) expressed a desire to continue. Conclusions Self-injection is feasible and acceptable among most study participants in Senegal. Implications These first research results on contraceptive self-injection in West Africa indicate initial feasibility and acceptability of the practice. Results underscore the importance of designing self-injection programs that empower and support women, including those with limited education.

What some women want? On-demand oral contraception.

OBJECTIVE To summarize evidence regarding current demand for on-demand oral contraception. STUDY DESIGN We used Medline and collegial contacts to find published and unpublished studies conducted or reported in the past 15 years with information assessing womens interest in using any oral drug preparation, including emergency contraceptive pills, in a coitus-dependent manner either repeatedly or as a primary or planned pregnancy prevention method. RESULTS We found 19 studies with relevant information. The studies were conducted in 16 countries. Eight studies provided data on womens attitudes regarding a coitus-dependent oral contraceptive; all suggested substantial interest in using it. Nine studies assessed actual use of oral tablets on demand for primary contraception. In these studies, 9-97% of women in the analysis populations reported using the pills on demand as main method, although frequency and consistency of use varied. Reported reasons for interest in or use of this contraceptive approach included convenience, ease of remembering, ability to conceal use, lack of coital interruption, and infrequent sexual activity. Three studies were clinical trials of investigational on-demand oral contraceptives which reported Pearl indices ranging from 6.8 to 53 pregnancies per 100 woman-years. CONCLUSION Data from a variety of settings suggest that demand for an on-demand oral contraceptive may be widespread. The effectiveness of this potential method is not established, however. Considering the seriousness of the unmet need for contraception, further development research into the public health benefits and risks of such a method would be worthwhile. IMPLICATIONS Demand for an on-demand oral contraceptive may be widespread. Efforts should be made to further explore the possibility of developing such a method.

Is contraceptive self-injection cost-effective compared to contraceptive injections from facility-based health workers? Evidence from Uganda

Objective To assess the cost-effectiveness of self-injected subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) compared to health-worker-administered intramuscular DMPA (DMPA-IM) in Uganda. Study design We developed a decision-tree model with a 12-month time horizon for a hypothetical cohort of approximately 1 million injectable contraceptive users in Uganda to estimate the incremental costs per pregnancy averted and per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted. The study design derived model inputs from DMPA-SC self-injection continuation and costing research studies and peer-reviewed literature. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios from societal and health system perspectives and conducted one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses to test the robustness of results. Results Self-injected DMPA-SC could prevent 10,827 additional unintended pregnancies and 1620 maternal DALYs per year for this hypothetical cohort compared to DMPA-IM administered by facility-based health workers. Due to savings in womens time and travel costs, under a societal perspective, self-injection could save approximately US

Costs of administering injectable contraceptives through health workers and self-injection: evidence from Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Senegal

1 million or

Formative research to shape HPV vaccine introduction strategies in Peru

84,000 per year, depending on the self-injection training aid used. From a health system perspective, self-injection would avert more pregnancies but incur additional costs. A training approach using a one-page client instruction sheet would make self-injection cost-effective compared to DMPA-IM, with incremental costs per pregnancy averted of

The Role of Interpersonal Communication in Preventing Unsafe Abortion in Communities: The Dialogues for Life Project in Nepal

15 and per maternal DALY averted of

A prospective cohort study of the feasibility and acceptability of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate administered subcutaneously through self-injection

98. Sensitivity analysis showed that the estimates were robust. The one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses showed that the costs of the first visit for self-injection (which include training costs) were an important variable impacting the cost-effectiveness estimates. Conclusions Under a societal perspective, self-injected DMPA-SC averted more pregnancies and cost less compared to health-worker-administered DMPA-IM. Under a health system perspective, self-injected DMPA-SC can be cost-effective relative to DMPA-IM when a lower-cost visual aid for client training is used. Implications Self-injection has economic benefits for women through savings in time and travel costs, and it averts additional pregnancies and maternal disability-adjusted life years compared to health-worker-administered injectable DMPA-IM. Implementing lower-cost approaches to client training can help ensure that self-injection is also cost-effective from a health system perspective.

Stakeholder perceptions of a total market approach to family planning in Viet Nam.

Objective To evaluate the 12-month total direct costs (medical and nonmedical) of delivering subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) under three strategies — facility-based administration, community-based administration and self-injection — compared to the costs of delivering intramuscular DMPA (DMPA-IM) via facility- and community-based administration. Study design We conducted four cross-sectional microcosting studies in three countries from December 2015 to January 2017. We estimated direct medical costs (i.e., costs to health systems) using primary data collected from 95 health facilities on the resources used for injectable contraceptive service delivery. For self-injection, we included both costs of the actual research intervention and adjusted programmatic costs reflecting a lower-cost training aid. Direct nonmedical costs (i.e., client travel and time costs) came from client interviews conducted during injectable continuation studies. All costs were estimated for one couple year of protection. One-way sensitivity analyses identified the largest cost drivers. Results Total costs were lowest for community-based distribution of DMPA-SC (US

Stakeholder perceptions of a total market approach to family planning in Nicaragua

7.69) and DMPA-IM (