Provider confidence and willingness to insert and remove long-acting reversible contraception methods in Kenyan public facilities.

Objective: Use of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in Kenya has grown over the last decade, yet emerging evidence points to challenges in LARC removal. The objective of this paper is to document provider training in LARC insertion/removal and to better understand provider experience, confidence, and willingness to both insert and remove LARC.

Study Design: In this paper we present a descriptive analysis of self-reported data from family planning providers working in all 137 public-sector healthcare facilities in Kisumu County (Western Kenya). We assess the frequency of public-sector provider training, experience, confidence, and willingness to insert and remove LARC, as well as the association between confidence and willingness to provide these services.

Results: A substantial proportion of providers in our study lacked training in the insertion and removal of both implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs). Overall, providers reported that they were more experienced, confident, and willing to insert implants rather than remove them. A fifth of providers trained in IUD insertion were not confident in their ability to insert IUDs and nearly 10% were not willing to perform insertion. In contrast, 8% of providers trained in IUD insertion were not confident in their ability to remove IUDs and 6% were not willing to remove them. Provider confidence was significantly associated with willingness to insert/remove both implant and IUD. Less than two-thirds of facilities demonstrated stock of the implant (61%) or IUD (58%).

Conclusion: Results raise important concerns about reproductive autonomy within the larger environment of family planning programs that heavily promote LARC use. Within Kisumu, public-sector providers require greater supplies and support to maintain confidence and ensure their willingness to engage in LARC insertion and removal in equal measure.

Implications: We find that many providers at public sector healthcare facilities in Kisumu, Kenya lacked training in LARC insertion and removal. Providers reported that they were more experienced, confident, and willing to insert rather than remove implants, which poses a potential threat to reproductive autonomy.