Supporting Menstrual Regulation through the Call Centre in Bangladesh

This study highlights the importance of hotlines, combi-packs and clear packaging for ensuring that people can safely self-administer reproductive health medications.

The analysis of 287,095 calls to the contact center between 2012 and 2016 found that use of the contact centre steadily increased, most commonly among those using menstrual regulation products, their husbands, pharmacy workers and village doctors. The most common reasons for calling were to obtain information about the regimen, to find information about side effects, or to report side effects. Printing the hotline phone number on the side of medication packaging resulted in substantial increases in calls.

Contact centers and hotlines play an important role in improving the quality of information and reducing potential harm from self-management of reproductive health medications. Maximizing the visibility of hotlines to individuals using reproductive health medications can increase access to accurate information and care.

Source: Marie Stopes International, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of St. Andrews

Date of Publication: September 14, 2020