Experts discuss postpartum family planning contraceptive technology
September 2008
More than 500 people from 60 countries participated in an online forum on “Postpartum
family planning (PPFP) contraceptive technology: Everything you need to know about family planning methods through the first year postpartum.” The online forum provided an overview of contraceptive methods for PPFP through the first year postpartum, and allowed participants to share programmatic experiences. It was sponsored by ACCESS-FP through the PPFP Community of Practice from
02-11 September 2008.
During the forum, experts from Jhpiego, EngenderHealth and The Institute for Reproductive Health provided an overview of PPFP methods while community members from the field posted questions and shared experiences. Contributions to the forum came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cambodia, Georgia, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Pakistan, Switzerland, Uganda, the United States and Yemen. Topics covered during the forum included:
- An overview of PPFP methods;
- Healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy;
- Return to fertility;
- The Lactational Amenorrhea Method;
- Long-Acting and Permanent Methods (LAPM);
- Awareness-raising and demand for PPFP;
- The extended "grace" period for Depo-Provera;
- Provision of methods via community workers;
- Involvement of traditional birth attendants; and
- Integration of PPFP into other services.
Discussions emerged regarding the need to sensitize communities on PPFP, timing of the return to fertility, how to
reach women who deliver outside of facilities through community-based services, and the need to update providers in the provision of LAPM. The forum also served as an opportunity to share resources—including an ACCESS-FP preservice teaching module, the Postpartum Contraceptive Options Chart, and a number of articles and briefs on topics such as the postpartum IUD, return to fertility and provision of injections by community health workers.
The PPFP Community of Practice serves as a global forum for those interested in learning and exchanging information, tools and resources related to family planning through the first year postpartum. To request membership, visit the PPFP Community of Practice.
About ACCESS-FP
The ACCESS-FP Program is a five-year global
program,
sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development, with the goal of
responding to the significant unmet needs for family planning among postpartum women. As an Associate Award through the ACCESS Program,
ACCESS-FP is implemented by Jhpiego in partnership with Save the Children, Constella
Futures, the Academy for Educational Development, the American College of Nurse-Midwives
and IMA World Health.
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