Self-Care Family Planning in South Sudan: Boosting Access to Self-Managed Methods
Official title: Estimating the Impact of Comprehensive SRHR Services on Health and Development in South Sudan: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Contraceptive Self-Care Intervention for the Family Planning Impact Lab
Run by Guttmacher Institute · NCT07888296 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether adding a self-care component to existing family planning services helps women in South Sudan use modern contraception more and manage their fertility more in line with their preferences.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 15 Years to 49 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 2736 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Guttmacher Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Malualkon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 11, 2026 |
| Main results expected | May 2029 |
| Study ends | May 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 27, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07888296 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are women aged 15–49 residing in sampled communities in Aweil East who can provide informed consent and communicate in the study language.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals unable to consent or who do not share language with enumerators may not participate or benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study is an independent evaluation embedded within ongoing IRC family planning work in South Sudan. It uses a randomized cluster design to compare standard services with standard services plus an added self-care intervention, across communities in Aweil East. Outcomes are measured through four waves of household surveys among women aged 15–49, focusing on modern contraceptive use, self-managed methods, and fertility preferences. The trial aims to quantify the added impact of self-care on access and method choice while maintaining rigorous statistical control. Results will contribute to understanding whether enabling self-managed contraception can improve uptake and alignment with fertility goals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase access to self-managed contraception and improve alignment between contraceptive use and personal fertility preferences.
How similar studies have gone: This is an established approach within FPIL's framework, with prior similar cluster-randomized evaluations informing expectations, though results may vary by setting.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Women aged 15 to 49 living within a sampled boma of Aweil East Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals unable to provide informed consent due to cognitive impairment or severe mental illness * Individuals who do not share a common language with the enumerators
Where it's running
-
Multi-site (household surveys) throughout Aweil East
Malualkon, South Sudan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jewel Gausman, PhD — Guttmacher Institute
- Study coordinator: Jewel Gausman, PhD
- Email: jgausman@guttmacher.org
- Phone: (212) 248-1111
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.