title: Addressing unmet need for long-acting family planning in Ethiopia: uptake of single-rod progestogen contraceptive implants (Implanon) and characteristics of users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe women who accept single-rod progestogen contraceptive implants (Implanon; N.V. Organon, Oss, Netherlands) from community health workers in Ethiopia and to assess whether community-based provision addresses unmet need for contraception.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women who accepted Implanon during training events in 4 regions were asked about their characteristics and use of family planning. They were compared with implant users nationally and women with unmet need in the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). Differences between groups were tested using 2-sample comparisons of proportions and means.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, Implanon acceptors were younger and had more years of education and fewer children than implant users nationally. Almost one-quarter (22.9%) of all participants had never used contraception before; this was slightly higher among women who chose Implanon (23.1% vs 16.4%; P=0.04). Acceptors were also less likely than non-acceptors to be using contraception (70.8% vs 77.3%; P<0.05) but all women interviewed were more likely to be using contraception than the rural population. Women who accepted Implanon were younger but more educated than women with unmet need for contraception in the 2005 DHS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Provision of Implanon at the community level through community health workers is effective in reaching women with the greatest need for contraception.
authors.affiliation: Pathfinder International, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Electronic address: masnake@pathfinder.org.
authors.forename: Mengistu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asnake
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Yewondwossen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tilahun
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oliveras
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D004522:Educational Status; D005002:Ethiopia; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004343:Drug Implants; C044815:etonogestrel; D017135:Desogestrel
keywords: Contraception; Ethiopia; Fertility decline; Implanon; Single-rod progestogen contraceptive implant; Unmet need