ACCEPTABILITY OF NORPLANT CONTRACEPTIVE SUBDERMAL IMPLANTS IN KENYA

Norplant contraceptive implants are a relatively new acquisition onto the Kenyan family planning scene. The method seems highly acceptable t o a wide cross-section of Kenyan women in government and non-governmen tal organisations (NGO) clinics. One thousand, six hundred and fifty f our clients were recruited into the programme of the largest family pl anning NGO between 1991 and 1994. Most of the acceptors were young wit h an average number of 2.6 living children. Half-yearly acceptance rat es have been rising. There were minimal serious side effects reported, but 72.0% of the clients complained of some menstrual disruption. Sit e infection rates were 0.2%, the same as capsule expulsion rates and b enign ovarian cyst. Continuation rates were good at 91.0% over the fir st year and 80.0% over the second year. Client profile and user charac teristics are presented. Norplant seems to be a well accepted contrace ptive method by young low-parity Kenyan women seeking long-term, conti nuous yet reversible contraceptive options.