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

Abstract

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 to 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 to 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.