Kathmandu, Aug. 25 -- For the past two decades, Basanti Paudel, 41, of Nawalpur had always used Depo-Provera toprevent unwanted pregnancies Then last year, she was given a new choice: Sayana Press.

Sayana Press, a successor to Depo-Provera, was introduced last year in Nawalparasi and Sindhuli and is a better option because it has a smaller dosage, comes with a small needle, can be stored at room temperature and is injected sub-cutaneously just under the skin rather than in the muscles, making it less painful. Sayana can also be self-injected at home and lasts for three months just like Depo-Provera.

Basanti Paudel immediately took to the new contraceptive. "It is a much better, but I worry about its availability during the lockdown, and...