Findings from a four-year implementation research project have highlighted pathways for scaling up the Hormonal Intrauterine Device (HIUD) in Nigeria and expanding contraceptive choices for women nationwide.
The findings were presented on Wednesday in Abuja at the dissemination meeting of the Research on Scale-Up of the Hormonal IUD in New and Emerging Markets (SHINE) Project.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was implemented from 2022 to 2026 by FHI 360 and the Society for Family Health (SFH) Nigeria under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The project documented real-world experiences from the introduction and scale-up of the Hormonal IUD within Nigeria’s public health sector using mixed-methods implementation science research.
The study was conducted in Bauchi, Ebonyi, Nasarawa and Oyo states to generate evidence for ongoing Hormonal IUD introduction efforts and future family planning innovations.
Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of SFH, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, described the project as a major milestone in strengthening evidence-based family planning programming in Nigeria.
Idogho, represented by Mr Emeka Okafor, Group Director, Population Health and Community Systems, SFH, said expanding contraceptive choice required continuous innovation and evidence generation beyond increasing service coverage.
He said that the SHINE Project was not merely an implementation initiative.
He added it was designed as a learning platform to generate practical evidence on how new contraceptive methods could be introduced, accepted, delivered and sustained within the realities of the Nigerian health system.
Idogho said that introducing a new contraceptive method into a country’s method mix was a complex undertaking requiring provider competency, client awareness, commodity availability, supportive policies and health system readiness.
According to him, the findings have implications beyond the Hormonal IUD, providing lessons for introducing and scaling new health technologies and innovations within the country.
“The evidence generated through this project can help inform future introductions of contraceptive methods and other reproductive health interventions.
“This will be by identifying effective approaches for provider training, demand generation, service delivery integration, commodity management, quality assurance and community engagement,” he said.
Idogho said expanding contraceptive choice remained a cornerstone of rights-based family planning because women have diverse reproductive intentions, health needs and personal preferences.
He added that the evidence generated would support policymakers, programme managers, donors, implementing partners and healthcare providers in making informed decisions on investments and service delivery models.
The SFH chief urged stakeholders to view the dissemination meeting not as the conclusion of a project but as an opportunity to shape the future of contraceptive innovation in Nigeria.
“The true value of SHINE lies not only in the services delivered or the clients reached, but in the evidence generated and the lessons learned,” he said.
He called for translating the findings into policies, programmes, investments and actions capable of strengthening Nigeria’s reproductive health landscape and improving access to quality family planning services.
Also speaking, Dr John Ovuraiye, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the project had generated evidence to support national family planning efforts.
Ovuraiye said implementation research remained critical because it enabled health interventions to be introduced, monitored, evaluated and documented for future policy decisions.
He said the findings would support government efforts to improve access to family planning services and ensure women had a wider range of contraceptive options.
“It is always better to make sure people have their sexual and reproductive health rights and are provided information and options that fit their individual needs because one size does not fit all,” he said.
According to him, the Hormonal IUD provides women with another family planning option that can help prevent unintended pregnancies, improve birth spacing and contribute to better maternal health outcomes.
He said lack of access to preferred contraceptive methods could deny women the opportunity to make informed reproductive choices and increase health, social and economic burdens on families.
Ovuraiye said the government welcomed evidence generated through such studies and encouraged development partners to undertake more research to strengthen health sector decision-making.
He added that one of the key recommendations from the SHINE Project was to scale up the intervention beyond the participating states so that more women could benefit.
NAN reports that findings from provider and key informant interviews revealed differing views on the level of training required when transitioning between different Hormonal IUD products and inserter types.
The study recommended that providers who have received in-depth training on copper and hormonal IUDs could learn to use new Hormonal IUD inserters through videos, pamphlets, training manuals and supervised practice.
Researchers also recommended that IUD training curricula should include all available IUD products and inserter types to strengthen provider competence and improve service delivery.
NAN reports that the Hormonal IUD is a long-acting reversible contraceptive that provides effective pregnancy prevention while expanding contraceptive choices available to women.(NAN)
