Introduction of the contraceptive implant in South Africa : successes, challenges and the way forward

• Published in: South African medical journal Vol. 107; no. 10; pp. 812 - 814
• Main Authors: Rees, H., Mullick, S., Pillay, Y., Chersich, M.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG) 01-10-2017; Health & Medical Publishing Group; South African Medical Association
• Subjects: Contraception - methods; Contraception - statistics & numerical data; Contraception Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Family Planning Services - methods; Family Planning Services - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Implanon; Intrauterine devices; Long-Acting Reversible Contraception - methods; Long-Acting Reversible Contraception - statistics & numerical data; Quality Improvement; South Africa; South Africa; South Africa; Demand creation; Family planning; Monitoring; Counselling; Implanon
• ISSN: 0256-9574; 2078-5135
• DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i10.12849

In 2014, the contraceptive implant was introduced into public sector facilities in South Africa (SA). Several thousand healthcare workers were trained, and demand was generated for the method, achieving high uptake. Use of the implant has since declined, but currently accounts for ~7% of all contraceptive use – a not insignificant achievement for a ‘new’ method. In this edition of SAMJ, three articles take stock of the early years of implant provision in SA. The articles, based on research in 2016, capture women’s motivations for using the implant and their perspectives towards the method; and healthcare providers’ competencies and experiences with service provision. Insights may be generalisable to family planning services more broadly, but are also relevant to the introduction of other new technologies, especially those related to HIV.