In Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, the state government has been intensifying access to free long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods, such as IUDs and subdermal implants. This initiative aims to increase reproductive autonomy for women and reduce maternal mortality.
Between 2023 and 2024, the State Health Department distributed 23,012 units of these methods to municipalities. This strategy is part of a broader program launched in 2020, updated in 2022, which provides guidelines for offering LARC methods and training healthcare professionals.
Since 2017, the state has partnered with the Gynecology and Obstetrics Association of Mato Grosso do Sul to conduct training workshops. These workshops have trained approximately 480 professionals, with 345 doctors qualified to insert contraceptive methods. These efforts have contributed to a 30% reduction in maternal mortality between 2023 and 2024.