Bibliographic information
GuidelineAbortion care guideline, 2nd ed
Year of Publication2024
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Maintained
For injectable contraceptives (initiation and continuation): Recommend administration by traditional and complementary medicine professionals
Recommended in favor
Strong
Notes and Remarks
Implementation considerations
- The administration of an injectable contraceptive involves using a syringe and may be intramuscular or subcutaneous.
- It is important to have adequate mechanisms for the disposal of used sharps, syringes and needles.
- It is important to ensure a consistent supply of the injectables, especially at the point of sale for women to obtain and use on their own.
- The investment in initial training is a consideration where the health worker is not already certified to provide injections. It is important to have mechanisms to link the health worker to the health system and ensure a referral pathway.
KEY HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO POST-ABORTION CONTRACEPTION
- Contraception should be provided only where the person has given free and informed consent to receive it.
- States must ensure availability of the full range of contraceptive options, including a wide range of modern, safe and affordable methods.
- States must ensure adequate access to essential medicines, including contraceptives, in an affordable and non-discriminatory manner.
- Everyone has a right to evidence-based information on all aspects of SRH, including contraceptives.
- Contraceptive information and services must be provided without discrimination, coercion or violence.
- Everyone has a right to privacy and confidentiality in the receipt of contraceptive information and services.
- Post-abortion contraceptive information and services should be available and accessible to adolescents without requiring parental or guardian authorization.
- States must guarantee that practices of conscientious refusal/objection do not infringe on the right to contraceptive information and services. For further information and sources, please refer to Box 1.2 and Web annex A: Key international human rights standards on abortion.
Also Featured In
This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:
Originally Developed
Guideline
Abortion care guideline
Year2022
InstitutionWHO