In the remote hills of Nepal’s Bhojpur District, Chinta* is raising a large family, including her husband and eight children.
Like many women in her community, Chinta was married young, at just sixteen, and gave birth to her first daughter at age twenty.
In Nepal, social and cultural traditions often place pressure on women to have sons. After her first daughter, Chinta had five more girls and experienced multiple miscarriages, all in the hope of having a boy. She finally gave birth to a son at the age of 45.
When her baby was around six months old, Chinta visited a local health post – a rare opportunity for many families in such an isolated region. It was there that she met an MSI Lady, a local woman trained by MSI to provide contraception services and information to her own community.
In hard-to-reach places like Bhojpur, MSI Ladies offer life-changing care. They visit health posts and homes, providing support to women who often have little or no access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Before that day, Chinta had never used contraception. She didn’t know what options were available. But after gentle and thorough counselling from the MSI Lady, she learned about different methods and chose a contraceptive implant: a long-acting option that protects against pregnancy for several years.
At first, she was hesitant. She was afraid the procedure would be painful and unsure about using contraception. The MSI Lady gave her time to think and encouraged her to speak with her friends, some of whom were also using long-acting methods. After hearing their stories, Chinta felt more confident and decided to go ahead.
When she returned to the health post on her next visit, Chinta shared her experience with the MSI Ladies. She said she felt safe, supported, and happy with her decision, and thankful for the care she received.
With trusted information and local care, more women like Chinta are able to make choices that are right for them – and feel confident about their future.
*Names and images have been changed to protect privacy
