Expanding Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Ethiopia

To address the gaps in sexual and reproductive healthcare access in Ethiopia, the country is reinforcing its health system to make these vital services more accessible for women and adolescents in remote and crisis-affected areas. This effort involves promoting self-care, giving people the knowledge and tools to manage their own sexual and reproductive health through safe, simple, and affordable practices. With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), health authorities have developed the National Self-Care Intervention Guideline, focusing on interventions for women, adolescent, and child health.

Key Takeaways:

• The National Self-Care Intervention Guideline, developed with WHO support, focuses on interventions for women, adolescent, and child health.
• Health authorities have integrated self-care and expanded sexual and reproductive health services into key national policy guidelines, including those related to family planning, safe abortion care, teenage pregnancy reduction, and sexual and reproductive health responses in humanitarian settings.
• Health workers are being trained to teach people how to promote self-care tools, starting with a workshop for 38 public health officials in June 2024 and expanding to 67 health providers and managers in October 2024.
• At Kolfe Health Centre in Addis Ababa, the introduction of self-care services contributed to a significant increase in access to services, with over 800 women receiving over-the-counter combined oral contraceptives in 2024, compared to 280 in 2022.
• Following self-care training, health workers reported improved knowledge and skills in providing comprehensive family planning and abortion care, and expressed confidence in supporting women in their communities.
• In the northern region of Amhara, WHO and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute trained 30 healthcare providers on self-care intervention guidelines, resulting in over 100 women and adolescents being educated on self-care and receiving safe abortion care.
• The interventions significantly benefited the community and contributed to the efforts to reduce preventable maternal and perinatal deaths.
• Dr. Owen Kaluwa, WHO Representative in Ethiopia, stated that Ethiopia's commitment for self-care integration is empowering individuals, especially women and adolescents, with the knowledge and tools for proactive health management, offering considerable community convenience and cost savings.

Statistics:

• 800 women received over-the-counter combined oral contraceptives in 2024.
• 280 women received over-the-counter combined oral contraceptives in 2022.
• 84 women were trained to self-administer a safe and effective injectable contraceptive, known as DMPA.
• Over 1,000 adolescents were provided condoms after training on correct use.
• 50 women received self-management of medical abortion services.
• 30 healthcare providers from 13 health facilities in conflict-affected districts were trained on self-care intervention guidelines.
• 100 women and adolescents were educated on self-care for family planning, antenatal care, pregnancy danger signs, nutrition, and safe abortion.
• 120 adolescents were empowered with skills for correct condom use.
• 35 adolescent girls received safe abortion care.

Sources:

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• M2 PressWIRE - Expanding access to sexual and reproductive health services in Ethiopia (June 24, 2025)
• Addis Ababa City Health Bureau
• Ministry of Health
• Regional Health Bureaus
• Ethiopian Public Health Institute
• M2 Communications