New Contraceptive Shot Being Released in Africa

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

An easy-to-use new form of the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera was introduced last week in Burkina Faso, the first of four African countries in which it will be rolled out this year.

The new form is a Uniject capsule — a plastic bubble with a needle attached and filled with one dose of the contraceptive. Because it is delivered just beneath the skin rather than into muscle, the needle is short and slim.

It is considered so simple that its backers hope to eventually see women inject themselves, said Sara Tifft, associate director of global reproductive health for PATH, a Seattle organization that develops health technology for the poor. Injectable contraceptives that last for three months are very popular in Africa and some other places where women may not want their husbands to realize they are using birth control.

Source: The New York Times (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Health Care
Tags
Base of the Pyramid, healthcare technology, reproductive health