Unmet Need for Family Planning in Nepal during the First Two Years Postpartum

Abstract

Contraceptive use during the postpartum period is critical for maternal and child health. However, little is known about the use of family planning and the determinants in Nepal during this period. This study explored pregnancy spacing, unmet need, family planning use, and fertility behaviour among postpartum women in Nepal using child level data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys 2011. More than one-quarter of women who gave birth in the last five years became pregnant within 24 months of giving birth and 52% had an unmet need for family planning within 24 months postpartum. Significantly higher rates of unmet need were found among rural and hill residents, the poorest quintile, and Muslims. Despite wanting to space or limit pregnancies, nonuse of modern family planning methods by women and returned fertility increased the risk of unintended pregnancy. High unmet need for family planning in Nepal, especially in high risk groups, indicates the need for more equitable and higher quality postpartum family planning services, including availability of range of methods and counselling which will help to further reduce maternal, perinatal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Nepal.

Counseling and Individual Factors on Postpartum Mother to Use Contraceptive Method

“…Despite wanting to space or limit pregnancies, nonuse of modern family planning methods by women and returned fertility increased the risk of unintended pregnancy. High unmet need for family planning in Nepal, especially in high risk groups, indicates the need for more equitable and higher quality postpartum family planning services, including availability of range of methods and counselling which will help to further reduce maternal, perinatal, and neonatal morbidity and mortality in Nepal (Mehata et al, 2014). Other study stated that most woman (68,4%) wanted to cease giving birth while 31.6% of them planned to delay having child (Ceylan et al, 2009).…”

“…Analysis showed a significant relationship between counselling and decision to use contraception ρ=0.00 (Sari et al, 2010). Family planning program should establish a good coordination with maternal and child program focusing on childbirth spacing or pregnancy prevention and ensure easy access for pregnant women during their ANC and PNC period to get be introduced to family planning methods (Mehata et al, 2014) little is known about the use of family planning and the determinants in Nepal during this period. This study explored pregnancy spacing, unmet need, family planning use, and fertility behaviour among postpartum women in Nepal using child level data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys 2011.…”

Institucionalización de la planificación familiar posparto y del dispositivo intrauterino posparto en Nepal: papel de la formación y la tutoría

“…La necesidad no resuelta de planificación familiar posparto (PFPP) es mucho mayor en los países de ingresos bajos y medios. En Nepal, la necesidad no resuelta de PFPP durante el periodo posparto inmediato era del 52 % 3 . Los dispositivos intrauterinos posparto (DIUPP) son un método de PFPP eficaz y asequible que puede reducir esta necesidad 4 .…”

Institutionalizing postpartum family planning and postpartum intrauterine device services in Nepal: Role of training and mentorship

“…The unmet need for postpartum family planning (PPFP) is much higher in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). In Nepal, unmet need for PPFP was 52% among women in the immediate postpartum period . Postpartum intrauterine devices (PPIUDs) are an effective and affordable PPFP method that can reduce unmet need .…”

“…In Nepal, unmet need for PPFP was 52% among women in the immediate postpartum period. 3 Postpartum intrauterine devices (PPIUDs) are an effective and affordable PPFP method that can reduce unmet need. 4 Health providers play a key role in addressing unmet need by providing quality and timely PPIUD services.…”