"I just love it - I know there is something which has not given me worry when I am with my partner": acceptability of hormonal intrauterine device among clients in two districts in Tanzania

Chelsey Porter Erlank; Amani Kikula; Jackline Ngowi; Tito Muhumba; Simon Mvunabandi; Zuhura Mbuguni; Getrude Naphtali; Esther Mtumbuka; George Ruhago; Bruno Sunguya; Andrea B. Pembe

doi:10.1080/16549716.2026.2688015

"I just love it - I know there is something which has not given me worry when I am with my partner": acceptability of hormonal intrauterine device among clients in two districts in Tanzania

Chelsey Porter Erlank
, Amani Kikula
, Jackline Ngowi
, Tito Muhumba
, Simon Mvunabandi
, Zuhura Mbuguni
, Getrude Naphtali
, Esther Mtumbuka
, George Ruhago
, Bruno Sunguya
, Andrea B. Pembe

Reproductive and Maternal Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Peer-reviewed journal articles › peer-review

Abstract

Background
Hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) is an effective contraceptive method with high user satisfaction rates. To guide the introduction of hormonal IUD into the public sector in Tanzania, an operational research study was conducted to assess client acceptability of hormonal IUDs.Objective To explore clients' perspectives on contraceptives and experiences with hormonal IUDs.

Methods
This observational mixed-methods study (2023-2024) used focus group discussions with current or future contraceptive users (N = 58, baseline), plus facility register reviews, a structured quantitative survey (N = 100, endline) and semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews (N = 18 at midline 2, N = 15 at endline) with hormonal IUD clients. Register and survey data were analysed for descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed thematically and triangulated with quantitative data.

Results
In total, 1,198 clients chose hormonal IUD during the eight-month study. At baseline, women had limited knowledge and several concerns about IUDs and emphasised the importance of good contraceptive counselling. Client satisfaction with hormonal IUD at six months post-insertion was high (93% were strongly or somewhat satisfied). Most (92%, 83% and 100%) clients were strongly satisfied with the counselling, follow-up care and removal services received, respectively. Hormonal IUD clients found the characteristic of localised release of hormones possibly offering a better side-effect profile than other hormonal methods appealing.

Conclusion
Hormonal IUD clients showed high satisfaction with the method and care received throughout the study. The authors recommend introduction of hormonal IUD into the public sector in Tanzania, with investments in community awareness, male engagement, and strengthening the quality of contraceptive counselling and side effects management.

Original language	English
Article number	2688015
Journal	Global Health Action
Volume	19
Issue number	1
Number of pages	14
ISSN	1654-9880
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2026.2688015
Publication status	Published - 31-Dec-2026

Keywords

Family planning
Acceptability
Long-acting reversible contraceptives
User experience
Women's health, acceptability

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10.1080/16549716.2026.2688015Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Erlank, C. P., Kikula, A., Ngowi, J., Muhumba, T., Mvunabandi, S., Mbuguni, Z., Naphtali, G., Mtumbuka, E., Ruhago, G., Sunguya, B., & Pembe, A. B. (2026). "I just love it - I know there is something which has not given me worry when I am with my partner": acceptability of hormonal intrauterine device among clients in two districts in Tanzania. Global Health Action, 19(1), Article 2688015. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2026.2688015

@article{11cb0222067c43238f2ff93b73fc3577,

title = "{"}I just love it - I know there is something which has not given me worry when I am with my partner{"}: acceptability of hormonal intrauterine device among clients in two districts in Tanzania",

abstract = "Background Hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) is an effective contraceptive method with high user satisfaction rates. To guide the introduction of hormonal IUD into the public sector in Tanzania, an operational research study was conducted to assess client acceptability of hormonal IUDs.Objective To explore clients' perspectives on contraceptives and experiences with hormonal IUDs. Methods This observational mixed-methods study (2023-2024) used focus group discussions with current or future contraceptive users (N = 58, baseline), plus facility register reviews, a structured quantitative survey (N = 100, endline) and semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews (N = 18 at midline 2, N = 15 at endline) with hormonal IUD clients. Register and survey data were analysed for descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed thematically and triangulated with quantitative data. Results In total, 1,198 clients chose hormonal IUD during the eight-month study. At baseline, women had limited knowledge and several concerns about IUDs and emphasised the importance of good contraceptive counselling. Client satisfaction with hormonal IUD at six months post-insertion was high (93\% were strongly or somewhat satisfied). Most (92\%, 83\% and 100\%) clients were strongly satisfied with the counselling, follow-up care and removal services received, respectively. Hormonal IUD clients found the characteristic of localised release of hormones possibly offering a better side-effect profile than other hormonal methods appealing. Conclusion Hormonal IUD clients showed high satisfaction with the method and care received throughout the study. The authors recommend introduction of hormonal IUD into the public sector in Tanzania, with investments in community awareness, male engagement, and strengthening the quality of contraceptive counselling and side effects management.",

keywords = "Family planning, Acceptability, Long-acting reversible contraceptives, User experience, Women's health, acceptability",

author = "Erlank, \{Chelsey Porter\} and Amani Kikula and Jackline Ngowi and Tito Muhumba and Simon Mvunabandi and Zuhura Mbuguni and Getrude Naphtali and Esther Mtumbuka and George Ruhago and Bruno Sunguya and Pembe, \{Andrea B.\}",

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doi = "10.1080/16549716.2026.2688015",

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Erlank, CP, Kikula, A, Ngowi, J, Muhumba, T, Mvunabandi, S, Mbuguni, Z, Naphtali, G, Mtumbuka, E, Ruhago, G, Sunguya, B & Pembe, AB 2026, '"I just love it - I know there is something which has not given me worry when I am with my partner": acceptability of hormonal intrauterine device among clients in two districts in Tanzania', Global Health Action, vol. 19, no. 1, 2688015. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2026.2688015

"I just love it - I know there is something which has not given me worry when I am with my partner": acceptability of hormonal intrauterine device among clients in two districts in Tanzania. / Erlank, Chelsey Porter; Kikula, Amani; Ngowi, Jackline et al.
In: Global Health Action, Vol. 19, No. 1, 2688015, 31.12.2026.

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Peer-reviewed journal articles › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - "I just love it - I know there is something which has not given me worry when I am with my partner": acceptability of hormonal intrauterine device among clients in two districts in Tanzania

AU - Erlank, Chelsey Porter

AU - Kikula, Amani

AU - Ngowi, Jackline

AU - Muhumba, Tito

AU - Mvunabandi, Simon

AU - Mbuguni, Zuhura

AU - Naphtali, Getrude

AU - Mtumbuka, Esther

AU - Ruhago, George

AU - Sunguya, Bruno

AU - Pembe, Andrea B.

N1 - FTX: CC BY

PY - 2026/12/31

Y1 - 2026/12/31

N2 - Background Hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) is an effective contraceptive method with high user satisfaction rates. To guide the introduction of hormonal IUD into the public sector in Tanzania, an operational research study was conducted to assess client acceptability of hormonal IUDs.Objective To explore clients' perspectives on contraceptives and experiences with hormonal IUDs. Methods This observational mixed-methods study (2023-2024) used focus group discussions with current or future contraceptive users (N = 58, baseline), plus facility register reviews, a structured quantitative survey (N = 100, endline) and semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews (N = 18 at midline 2, N = 15 at endline) with hormonal IUD clients. Register and survey data were analysed for descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed thematically and triangulated with quantitative data. Results In total, 1,198 clients chose hormonal IUD during the eight-month study. At baseline, women had limited knowledge and several concerns about IUDs and emphasised the importance of good contraceptive counselling. Client satisfaction with hormonal IUD at six months post-insertion was high (93% were strongly or somewhat satisfied). Most (92%, 83% and 100%) clients were strongly satisfied with the counselling, follow-up care and removal services received, respectively. Hormonal IUD clients found the characteristic of localised release of hormones possibly offering a better side-effect profile than other hormonal methods appealing. Conclusion Hormonal IUD clients showed high satisfaction with the method and care received throughout the study. The authors recommend introduction of hormonal IUD into the public sector in Tanzania, with investments in community awareness, male engagement, and strengthening the quality of contraceptive counselling and side effects management.

AB - Background Hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) is an effective contraceptive method with high user satisfaction rates. To guide the introduction of hormonal IUD into the public sector in Tanzania, an operational research study was conducted to assess client acceptability of hormonal IUDs.Objective To explore clients' perspectives on contraceptives and experiences with hormonal IUDs. Methods This observational mixed-methods study (2023-2024) used focus group discussions with current or future contraceptive users (N = 58, baseline), plus facility register reviews, a structured quantitative survey (N = 100, endline) and semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews (N = 18 at midline 2, N = 15 at endline) with hormonal IUD clients. Register and survey data were analysed for descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed thematically and triangulated with quantitative data. Results In total, 1,198 clients chose hormonal IUD during the eight-month study. At baseline, women had limited knowledge and several concerns about IUDs and emphasised the importance of good contraceptive counselling. Client satisfaction with hormonal IUD at six months post-insertion was high (93% were strongly or somewhat satisfied). Most (92%, 83% and 100%) clients were strongly satisfied with the counselling, follow-up care and removal services received, respectively. Hormonal IUD clients found the characteristic of localised release of hormones possibly offering a better side-effect profile than other hormonal methods appealing. Conclusion Hormonal IUD clients showed high satisfaction with the method and care received throughout the study. The authors recommend introduction of hormonal IUD into the public sector in Tanzania, with investments in community awareness, male engagement, and strengthening the quality of contraceptive counselling and side effects management.

KW - Family planning

KW - Acceptability

KW - Long-acting reversible contraceptives

KW - User experience

KW - Women's health, acceptability

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"I just love it - I know there is something which has not given me worry when I am with my partner": acceptability of hormonal intrauterine device among clients in two districts in Tanzania

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