Does counseling on family planning at maternity care points increase the uptake of postpartum family planning?: Evidence from nationally representative survey

Does counseling on family planning at maternity care points increase the uptake of postpartum family planning?: Evidence from nationally representative survey
Citation: Haider MM, Rahman MM, Khan S, Rahman M. (2024). Technical Brief: Does counseling at maternity care points increase the uptake of postpartum Family Planning (PPFP): Evidence from nationally representative survey. Chapel Hill, NC, USA: Data for Impact.
Abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines postpartum family planning (PPFP) as a family planning (FP) behavior to prevent unintended and closely spaced pregnancies through the first 12 months following childbirth. It is also considered a high impact practice and an essential component of birth care helping avert maternal and newborn health hazards by preventing short-spaced births.

The National Technical Committee (NTC) of the PPFP action plan in Bangladesh identified no or limited information about PPFP counseling provided to women during pregnancy and postpartum contact. The NTC laid out an initial general implementation plan for generating demand, including behavior change communication activities, the availability of the PPFP methods package, the training of providers, logistics and supply management, and quality improvement activities that are likely to increase PPFP use.  As part of the demand generation actions, the NTC also approved integrating information and counseling about FP during maternity and child care points and the provision of FP services from the child immunization sites. However, no published study has examined whether women receive FP counseling during antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC) visits. Also, there is a lack of evidence on whether FP counseling during ANC and PNC visits improves PPFP acceptance among Bangladeshi women.

This technical brief analyzes data from the nationally represented 2017-18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. The analysis focused on whether women who had their last live birth in the past three years received PPFP counseling during any ANC or PNC visits.
Shortname: FS-24-707
Author(s): M. Moinuddin Haider, Md. Mahabubur Rahman, Shusmita Khan, & Mizanur Rahman
Year: 2024
Language: English
Region(s): BANGLADESH