Strengthening contraceptive uptake for migrants in border areas Tak Province, Thailand and internally displaced in Kayin State, Myanmar, 2020-2024.

Tun NW., Wai NS., Gilder ME., Win AK., Eh H., McGready R.

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed contraceptive utilization among rural migrant populations accessing fixed and outreach clinics under the Strengthening Migrant Access to Reproductive Healthcare in Tak Province, Thailand initiative (SMARH-T), and internally displaced at fixed clinics in Eastern Myanmar. STUDY DESIGN: Observational, retrospective review of contraceptive utilization from 2020-2024 at 19 outreach clinics (all in Thailand) and four fixed clinics (two in Thailand, two in Myanmar). SMARH-T was launched in 2021 only in Thailand. RESULTS: Consultations in conflict affected Myanmar fixed clinics was lower than in Thailand. Outreach clinics hosted the majority (54.6%) of the 20,959 consultations, mostly for short-acting hormonals (66.9%) and mainly depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (88.4%). Women chose implants (96%) at consultations involving long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (31.7%). Total consultations increased 4.2-fold from 2020-2024. CONCLUSIONS: Outreach clinics enhanced accessibility and significantly increased contraceptive uptake for marginalized populations. This model effectively expands reproductive healthcare in rural, border, resource-limited settings.

DOI

10.1016/j.contraception.2026.111423

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2026-02-26T00:00:00+00:00

Keywords

Access, Internally Displaced, Long-Acting Reversible Contraception, Migrants, Myanmar, Thailand

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