Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented jointly by Jhpiego and International Centre for Reproductive Health–Kenya (ICRHK), this study was conducted in Kilifi County to explore women’s preferences and decision-making factors when choosing contraceptive implant products.

The research sought to provide evidence on user-centered perspectives that could guide the design, introduction, and scale-up of contraceptive implant technologies that align with women’s needs and preferences in Kenya.

Impact
Through this study, ICRHK and partners:

• Identified key factors influencing implant choice, including duration of protection, side effects, insertion and removal experiences, and overall satisfaction with different implant brands.
• Assessed women’s perceptions and acceptanceof emerging technologies such as biodegradable implants, shedding light on their potential market readiness and acceptability.
• Documented real-world experiencesof contraceptive implant users, revealing how personal, cultural, and service delivery factors shape decision-making and sustained use.
• Generated insights to inform product development and policy, emphasizing the importance of user preferences in the design and roll-out of next-generation contraceptive implants.

The study’s findings contributed to advancing evidence-based contraceptive innovation and ensuring that women’s voices and lived experiences meaningfully shape reproductive health product development and access strategies in Kenya and beyond.