Meet Zelesi Mateni a 38 years old lady, who comes from Kanyoni village T/A Mkanda Mchinji District. She is happily married and has 4 children of which among the 4 children 3 are schooling and the lastone is still young. She started using family planning in 2005. Zelesi moved from using the injection method like Depo to Jadelle implant for family planning. Since then she primarily opted for the injection method as it allowed her to prevent pregnancy for three months at a time without needing to visit a healthcare facility frequently. However, she experienced some side effects, like body weakening and headache.
One of the days Zelesi was drawing water with friends at a borehole in their community, when they were approached by the BCCI Officer from Banja LA Mtsogolo who was sensitizing the communities on family planning services to happen in their area in the next day. “We were gathered at one place for about 30 minutes and we were informed about all the family planning methods and its importance,” she explained.
From this session Zelesi learned about the Jadelle implant as a long-term method, which protects against pregnancy for up to five years, she decided to switch to this new method. She visited BLM outreach clinic in the next day that provided family planning services in their area, where she received counseling about the Jadelle implant and its potential benefits. The healthcare provider from BLM explained that the implant is placed under the skin of the upper arm and releases a steady dose of hormones to prevent ovulation and pregnancy. Not only that there are some possible side effects that one can experience like changes in menstrual cycle but the effects are manageable, Zelesi decided to have the Jadelle implant inserted.
In the months following the insertion of the Jadelle implant, Zelesi experienced a more regular menstrual cycle and did not experience the side effects she had faced with the injection method. She also appreciated the convenience of not wanting to return to the healthcare facility for regular injections. Zelesi felt empowered and in control of her reproductive health, as she is able to work without any worries and she is able to look after her children with all the total care.
The success of Zelesi's switch to the Jadelle implant extended beyond her personal experience. She shared her positive experience with family and friends, encouraging them to consider and explore the possibility of using long-acting rescindable contraception methods like the Jadelle implant. Her advocacy and personal testimony led to an increase in awareness of the Jadelle implant in her community.
The story above indicates that right information is the key to success on the uptake of long-term methods.