Dr. Baker funded to study self-administered injectable contraception

Dr. Katie Baker, Associate Professor of Community and Behavioral Health in the East Tennessee State University College of Public Health and faculty with the Center for Applied Research and Evaluation (CARE) in Women’s Health, has been awarded a research grant from the Society of Family Planning Research Fund to explore self-administered injectable contraception in the southeastern US.  She is funded as part of an opportunity titled “In their hands: Exploring the potential of self-administered injectable contraception.”

Self-administered subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) has the potential to expand people’s contraceptive choice and access. On May 21, 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use providing strong support for self-administration and clearing the path for more widespread provision of this method.

“Not only is the shot effective, it is also the preferred contraception method for many women,” stated Dr. Amal Khoury, Director of CARE Women’s Health. “Typically, women must see a health care provider every 3 months to get their injection. These visits can be costly and inconvenient. As a result, some women experience interruptions in their contraception use, potentially leading to an unintended pregnancy, while other women end up choosing a less effective or less preferred method.”

 “Contraceptive self-care is an essential component of reproductive autonomy,” stated Dr. Baker, “And self-administered injectable contraception has the potential to allow women control over whether and when they practice contraception.”  

While only 2% to 3% of US women aged 15 to 49 use an injectable for contraception, reliance on this method is more common among younger women, non-Hispanic Black women, and women experiencing low income. Current use of injectable contraception likely does not reflect true demand for self-administered DMPA-SC, given that the option to self-administer is not yet widely known or available.

“Self-administration of the shot removes obstacles, giving women peace of mind and enabling them to use their preferred method more seamlessly – at a lower cost and without interruption,” continued Dr. Khoury.  “This facilitates consistent and continued use of effective contraception, ultimately helping women achieve their reproductive health and life goals.”

In addition to receiving funds for research, Dr. Baker and her team will join a learning community of peers supported by this funding opportunity. The learning community will provide space for additional scientific feedback and capacity building.

Dr. Baker’s proposed research will explore demand and preferences for self-administered DMPA-SC among a patient population receiving care from safety-net clinics including local health departments and federally qualified health centers in two southeastern states.

Dr. Baker continued, “Our hope is that the results of this research will create policy and practice change at the local and state levels, allowing family planning patients in the US South greater autonomy over their contraceptive use.”