Adopting a modern contraceptive method reduces maternal morbidity and mortality rates (1, 2). Pregnancies that occur too early, too late, too frequently, and too closely spaced are primary causes of direct obstetric complications, which account for over 70% of maternal deaths in low-income countries (3). Consequently, family planning is crucial for reducing fertility rates and maternal mortality by avoiding high-risk pregnancies and decreasing the need for abortions, thereby helping to increase women's life expectancy (4). Central to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), family planning has major implications in areas such as gender, employment, poverty reduction, and health (5).

Despite these benefits, contraceptives remain underused in many developing regions (6, 7). Typically, women from favourable backgrounds and living conditions exhibit higher contraceptive use, whereas women from impoverished households, who are in greater need of contraceptives, often have limited access to them (4).

The global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) agenda now prioritizes the right of women to freely choose the number and timing of their children (8). A number of recent initiatives call for the gaps in access to modern contraception to be filled, particularly when women wish to avoid pregnancy but do not have the means or use traditional methods (9). One of the flagship initiatives in this area is Family Planning 2020, a global partnership launched in 2012. It aims to add 120 million new modern contraceptive users in the world's 69 least-developed countries by 2020 (9).

For family planning to be effective, it is essential to ensure continuity in the use of contraception. However, many factors, such as cost, convenience, satisfaction with the method, side effects, partner disagreement, and limited method options, lead many women to abandon contraception, resulting in higher unwanted pregnancies and a higher total fertility rate (10).

Injectable contraceptives, widely used for preventing pregnancy, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (11–13), represent a major advance. Subcutaneous injectable contraception based on medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) (brand name Sayana® Press) represents a major advance, enabling self-administration and considerably widening access to contraception (14). It is an effective method, rivalling intrauterine devices, implants, and sterilisation. Moreover, the discreet nature of DMPA-SC is crucial, particularly for women living in rural communities who seek confidential family planning (15).

Self-care approaches, such as self-injection of contraceptives, have the potential to revolutionise healthcare systems and contribute to the achievement of universal public health. When integrated into primary healthcare, these self-care practices can significantly impact health and well-being (16). Self-injection of DMPA-SC or other injectable contraceptives could remove barriers and enhance contraception accessibility, facilitating its continued use, particularly for women who have difficulty gaining regular access to health facilities or where the availability of providers is limited (14, 17). Kim et al. found that self-administration of injectable contraceptives improves contraceptive compliance by eliminating the requirement of clinic visits for each injection (18).

Studies conducted in Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, and Uganda have demonstrated the favourable reception of DMPA-SC, paving the way for increased access to family planning for women who already use contraceptive methods, as well as new users and young women (16, 19–21). Economic analyses conducted in Senegal and Uganda suggest that self-injection can result in significant savings for women and health systems (16).

With a total fertility rate of 4.4 children per woman (22), Burkina Faso remains one of the countries with the highest fertility rate in the world. Despite an improvement in contraceptive prevalence, rising from 10% in 2010 (23) to 30.1% in 2021 (22), the most recent DHS data reveals that 13% of women still have unmet needs, and total demand for family planning remains low, with only 43% expressing a need for it (34% for birth spacing and 9% for contraception). Numerous barriers hinder the use of contraception, including poor access to services, women's marginalised status, high illiteracy rates among women, the patriarchal structure of society, and opposition from men (24, 25).

Increasing the supply of contraceptive methods through the introduction of DMPA-SC in 2014 and rapidly scaling up within public health facilities was a strategy implemented by the Ministry of Health to reduce barriers to women's access to family planning (26).

Since the introduction of self-administered injectable contraception, which offers the potential to address unmet family planning needs in developing countries, including Burkina Faso, numerous studies have been conducted. However, the main limitation of these studies lies in the use of samples that are not representative of the population of women of childbearing age who use contraceptive methods (27–28). Some studies recruited samples of women from health centres (29–31), which is not necessarily representative of the diversity of women nationwide. Others have used a cohort of women recruited during family planning campaigns organised in specific areas (32). Our study benefits from utilizing data sourced from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), ensuring the attainment of a nationally representative sample.

This study aims to understand the determinants that influence the use of DMPA-SC/Sayana Press among women who use modern contraceptive methods in Burkina Faso.

In total, this study used a sample of 5112 women who use modern contraceptive methods. Table 1 presents the characteristics of the women according to the variables used in the study. DMPA-SC was used by 10.1% of women. The majority of the women included were aged between 15 and 29 (49.7%), followed by those aged between 30 and 39 (34.3%) and those aged between 40 and 49 (16.0%) and most women were Muslim (62.8%). The breakdown by marital status shows that a large proportion of women were married or living with a partner (82.2%), while 17.8% were not living with a partner.

More than half of the women have no formal education (56.5%). Most women have between 1 and 3 children (45.0%), while 13.1% have no children yet. A significant proportion of women (40.2%) do not discuss family planning with their partner. The women have a variety of occupations, with a high proportion of farmers (30.6%) and shopkeepers (21.6%). For some women, the distance to a health centre is a significant problem (31.5%), which may have an impact on their ability to obtain contraceptive services.

Table 2 examines the associations between different explanatory variables and using DMPA-SC (Subcutaneous Depot of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate) in Burkina Faso. The results indicate significant associations with several demographic, socio-economic, and behavioural factors.

Table 2 examines the associations between different explanatory variables and the use of DMPA-SC (Subcutaneous Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Depot) in Burkina Faso. The results show significant associations with several demographic, socio-economic and behavioural factors.

The difference in DMPA-SC use between age groups was statistically significant (p = 0.018). The proportion of DMPA-SC users was higher among women aged 15–29 (10.2%) and 30–39 (10.2%) than among women aged 40–49 (7.0%). Marital status was associated with DMPA-SC use (p = 0.001). Women who were married or living with a partner (10.9%) had a significantly higher rate of use than those not living with a partner (4.3%).

There were also significant variations in the use of DMPA-SC according to administrative region (p = 0.001) and place of residence. The results show geographical disparities, with higher rates of use in some regions than in others. Women's level of education was another factor associated with the use of DMPA-SC (p = 0.046). The results show that women with secondary or higher education have a lower rate of use than those with no education or primary education (p = 0.046). The number of children already born was significantly associated with the use of DMPA-SC (p = 0.000). Women without children or with a higher number of children had a lower rate of DMPA-SC use. Women who discuss family planning within the couple are more likely to use DMPA-SC (p = 0.001). Wealth was significantly associated with DMPA-SC use (p = 0.001). The spouse's level of education was significantly associated with the use of DMPA-SC (p = 0.001).

Religion, place of residence, frequency of listening to the media, occupation of the woman, and the problem of distance to the health centre were not significantly associated with the use of DMPA.

Table 3 presents the results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results of the logistic regression present the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for different explanatory variables concerning the use of DMPA-SC. The age of the woman was significantly associated with the use of DMPA-SC. Women aged between 15 and 29 were twice as likely to use DMPA-SC as those between 40 and 49 (aOR = 2.12, p = 0.000). Women aged 30 to 39 were also more likely to use DMPA-SC than the reference group (aOR = 1.51, p = 0.02).

Several regions showed a strong association with the use of DMPA-SC. For example, the Boucle du Mouhoun region had a high aOR of 8.10, which means that women in this region are significantly more likely to use DMPA-SC. Married women or those living with a partner [aOR = 1.93 (1.22, 3.05)] are more likely to use DMPA-SC. Women's level of education showed no significant association with the use of DMPA-SC.

Concerning the number of children the woman has, women with 1–3 children are approximately twice as likely to use DMPA-SC compared with those without children (aOR = 1.97, p = 0.02). Similarly, women with 4 to 5 children or 6 or more children were also significantly more likely to use DMPA-SC.

Women who discussed family planning within the couple were 1.45 times more likely to use DMPA-SC (aOR = 1.45, p = 0.001). Women for whom this discussion was not applicable were less likely to use it. The results show that women in the highest wealth group are significantly less likely to use DMPA-SC (aOR = 0.59, p = 0.001).

Women's occupations and problem of distance to get to a health centre showed no significant association with the use of DMPA-SC among women.

This study aimed to understand the determinants influencing the use of DMPA-SC/Sayana Press among women who use modern contraceptive methods in Burkina Faso. The results show several significant associations between different explanatory variables and DMPA-SC use. These results provide crucial information to guide public health policies and awareness programmes aimed at improving access to this contraceptive method and promoting family planning in the country.

The studies showed that DMPA-SC users were more numerous among women aged 15–29 and those aged 30–39 than among women aged 40 and over. This result appears to be consistent with findings elsewhere. In a study in Uganda, Corneliess et al. found that, compared with adult women, adolescents were more likely to use a modern contraceptive method for the first time when they opted for self-injection (44). Also, in Uganda and the DRC, results showed that young women (15–19 years) were more likely to use DMPA-SC compared to those aged 45–49 years, which could result from DMPA-SC programmes targeting younger women in these contexts (33). Also, many current DMPA-SC users are first-time contraceptive users, suggesting that DMPA-SC is reaching new populations and potentially increasing the overall prevalence of modern contraceptives in some settings (33, 45). In addition, the fact that self-infection allows great discretion and fewer visits to health centres makes DMPA-SC an attractive method for young women and married and unmarried teenagers, particularly those in need of secret contraception (46). In addition, community distribution of DMPA-SC appears to be an effective service delivery model for hard-to-reach populations, those most at risk of unmet need for FP, and key populations such as young people and unmarried users (47) and aids in decreasing the discontinuation and abandonment of contraception usage (19, 48, 49).

Our results also showed that marital status is significantly associated with the use of DMPA-SC. Married women were more likely to use the Sayana press than women who were not in a union. This result is also consistent with previous research. In a study conducted in Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda, the results showed that never-married women were more likely to use male condoms than DMPA-SC, which is consistent with research conducted elsewhere showing that never-married women were less likely to use DMPA-SC than all other modern methods combined. This may be because condoms are not generally used in marriage in sub-Saharan Africa (33).

The region of residence and the number of children per woman also play a role in the use of the DMPA-SC. Use of the DMPA-SC varies considerably from one region to another, with women living in the Hauts-Bassins, Boucle du Mouhoun, Centre, Centre West, and North being more likely to use the DMPA-SC than those living in other regions of the country. This variation between regions could be linked to the strategy for moving to the DMPA-SC in the health districts at the national level. Indeed, prior to the scale-up, the DMPA-SC was only available in four pilot health districts in Burkina Faso before being gradually extended to all health districts nationwide (26). Furthermore, Anglewicz et al., in their study, found that stocks of DMPA-SC varied according to context, with more regular stocks in private establishments in the DRC and public establishments in Burkina Faso and Nigeria (45). Also, persistent stock-outs and limited method options can disrupt contraceptive use and increase discontinuation (45).

This study emphasised the significance of parity (number of children per woman) in the use of DMPA-SC. Women with children were more likely to choose DMPA-SC than those without children. This result is consistent with the findings of Anglewicz et al. in both Uganda and the DRC, who found that women with two or more children (compared with no children or a single birth) were more likely to choose implants over DMPA-SC in both Uganda and the DRC (33).

The main strength of this study lies in its use of nationally representative data. However, several limitations were also identified. The cross-sectional nature of the study design prevents us from establishing a causal link between variables. In addition, the use of secondary data limited the integration of other determinants, such as quality of care, including advice on side effects, accessibility of services, and cultural factors, which were not considered in the models.

The results of the study serve as a starting point for further debate. In light of the results of this study, there are many crucial policy implications for improving access to and use of modern contraceptive methods in Burkina Faso. Policies should aim to increase education and awareness of contraceptive methods, with a focus on demographic groups least likely to use DMPA-SC, such as women aged 40–49. Specific information campaigns need to be developed for these groups. Also, the geographical disparities observed in the use of DMPA-SC require interventions to ensure equitable access to family planning services in all regions of the country. This could involve expanding services in regions where their use is less widespread.

Research into the use of DMPA-SC among women who use modern contraceptive methods in Burkina Faso has produced significant and informative results. The study, based on a representative sample of 5,112 women, revealed striking associations between several socio-demographic and behavioural variables and the use of this contraceptive method. The results of the study highlight significant differences in the use of DMPA-SC according to age, marital status, region of residence, level of education, number of children, and contraceptive discussion within the couple. Younger women are more likely to use DMPA-SC, as are those who are married or living with a partner. Geographical disparities and differences in the number of children a woman has are also significant factors in contraceptive use.

These results underline the need to adapt interventions to take account of socio-demographic, regional, and cultural differences to ensure an adapted and equitable service offer for the entire female population while addressing limitations and deepening understanding of the underlying determinants of DMPA-SC use. It is crucial to expand the distribution and enhance the accessibility of DMPA-SC to guarantee equal access to this family planning method in all regions. Additionally, we suggest intensifying awareness campaigns regarding this method, which would facilitate outreach to and enable marginalised women (rural, poor economic and social conditions) and young women to conveniently obtain DMPA-SC.