Why women shun oral contraceptive for implant, injection

Women shun oral contraceptive for implant, injection. (Courtesy)

Women of reproductive age in Busia are opting for long term contraceptives as opposed to daily oral pills. Details from the County Reproductive Health Department show that majority of women prefer implant and Depo Provera injection for birth control. In 2019, statistics show that a total of 22,013 women went for the implant while 30,650 received injection to prevent them from conceiving. Between January and June last year, at least 10,583 women went for the implant, compared to 14,500 recorded within the same period in 2020. In the first half of 2019 at least 10,926 women received the Depo Provera injection compared to 26,356 recorded between January and June 2020.

Consequently, data from Reproductive Health directorate shows that in 2019, only 6,320 women across the county collected oral pills from public health facilities. A total of 4,678 women picked family planning pills between January and June this year. Last year, 639 women underwent bilateral tubal ligation which is a permanent family planning method compared to 36 who underwent the procedure between January and June 2020.