title: Lessons from a geospatial analysis of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate sales by licensed chemical sellers in Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To map access to depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) from licensed chemical sellers (LCS); to estimate the proportion of women of reproductive age in areas with access; and to examine affordability and variability of costs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A geospatial analysis was conducted using data collected from 298 women who purchased DMPA from 49 geocoded LCS shops in the Amansie West and Ejisu-Juabeng districts of Ghana from June 4 to August 31, 2012. The women reported on cost and average distance traveled to purchase DMPA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Amansie West, 21.1% of all women of reproductive age lived within average walking distance and 80.4% lived within average driving distance of an LCS. In Ejisu-Juabeng, 41.9% and 60.1% of women lived within average walking and driving distance, respectively. Distribution of affordability varied across each district.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Access to LCS shops is high, and training LCS to administer DMPA would increase access to family planning in Ghana, with associated time and cost savings.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Affairs, FHI 360, Durham, USA. Electronic address: vss10@georgetown.edu.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shelus
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research Department, FHI 360, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lebetkin
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child Health Unit, FHI 360, Durham, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Keyes
authors.affiliation: Global Health Population and Nutrition, FHI 360, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mensah
authors.affiliation: Global Health Population and Nutrition, FHI 360, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Kafui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dzasi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D005869:Ghana; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011306:Prescription Fees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
keywords: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate; Family planning; Geographic information systems; Geospatial analysis; Ghana; Licensed chemical sellers