Exploring Interest in Self‑Administered DMPA‑SC among Patients in Safety Net Clinics: Demographic Patterns and Preferences
Abstract
Access to a full range of contraceptive methods — including user-controlled and self-administered options like self-administered subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) supports reproductive autonomy and ensures patients can choose the method that suits their personal health, lifestyle, and family planning goals. Despite growing evidence supporting self-administered DMPA-SC, less is known about patient interest in this option, particularly among those served by safety-net clinics in the Southeastern United States. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess demand for and preferences related to self-administered DMPA-SC among family planning patients in Alabama and South Carolina. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests of independence examined variation in interest by Depo-Provera use status, awareness, participant characteristics, clinic type, and state. All analyses were conducted in SAS 9.4. Results: Interest in self-administered Depo-Provera differed by current Depo use status (p = 0.01). Among current users, 30.0% reported interest compared with 19.8% of non-users. Interest also differed by familiarity with self-injection of other medical treatments (p < 0.001); 16.1% of those without such exposure reported interest compared with 32.2% among those with exposure. In addition, respondents 36 to 44 years of age (p = 0.01) and those who were previously married (p = 0.02) reported a higher interest in self-administered DMPA-SC. Conclusion: These findings highlight demographic patterns in interest in self-administered DMPA-SC among safety-net clinic patients in Alabama and South Carolina. As we have seen self-injected therapies become more common across the healthcare spectrum, DMPA-SC represents a promising user-controlled contraceptive option that supports privacy, autonomy, and flexibility for certain patient groups.
Start Time
15-4-2026 1:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 2:30 PM
Room Number
304
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Presentation Subtype
Grad/Comp Orals
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Graduate and Professional Degree Students, Residents, Fellows
Faculty Mentor
Michael Smith
Exploring Interest in Self‑Administered DMPA‑SC among Patients in Safety Net Clinics: Demographic Patterns and Preferences
304
Access to a full range of contraceptive methods — including user-controlled and self-administered options like self-administered subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) supports reproductive autonomy and ensures patients can choose the method that suits their personal health, lifestyle, and family planning goals. Despite growing evidence supporting self-administered DMPA-SC, less is known about patient interest in this option, particularly among those served by safety-net clinics in the Southeastern United States. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess demand for and preferences related to self-administered DMPA-SC among family planning patients in Alabama and South Carolina. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests of independence examined variation in interest by Depo-Provera use status, awareness, participant characteristics, clinic type, and state. All analyses were conducted in SAS 9.4. Results: Interest in self-administered Depo-Provera differed by current Depo use status (p = 0.01). Among current users, 30.0% reported interest compared with 19.8% of non-users. Interest also differed by familiarity with self-injection of other medical treatments (p < 0.001); 16.1% of those without such exposure reported interest compared with 32.2% among those with exposure. In addition, respondents 36 to 44 years of age (p = 0.01) and those who were previously married (p = 0.02) reported a higher interest in self-administered DMPA-SC. Conclusion: These findings highlight demographic patterns in interest in self-administered DMPA-SC among safety-net clinic patients in Alabama and South Carolina. As we have seen self-injected therapies become more common across the healthcare spectrum, DMPA-SC represents a promising user-controlled contraceptive option that supports privacy, autonomy, and flexibility for certain patient groups.
