Success for African post-partum contraception programme

Wednesday July 24th, 2019

A royal college initiative to provide post-partum family planning services to women in two African countries has proved successful, according to an analysis published today.

More than 60,000 women have been provided with services in Tanzania and South Africa as part of the initiative run by the UK’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

The programme, Leading Safe Choices, is intended to improve health outcomes for women and their families. It has been delivered at 20 centres in the two countries, where it has increased contraception uptake.

Outcomes are published today (24 July) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Professor Alison Fiander of Cardiff University, UK, and her team created the project in collaboration with The Health Foundation in South Africa, and Management and Development for Health in Tanzania.

She explains that it has a focus on long-acting reversible contraception methods, particularly the intrauterine device (copper coil) which is one of the most effective methods of contraception.

“With an increasing number of babies being delivered in health care facilities in low- and middle-income countries, postpartum family planning has the potential to improve access to contraception, particularly among poorer women from rural areas, and lead to better health outcomes for women and their families,” Professor Fiander says.

“The Leading Safe Choices programme demonstrates how adverse outcomes can be avoided by inexpensive training and support which can be incorporated into most health care settings.

“The provision of post-partum family planning may be quite literally life saving by preventing another pregnancy too soon after delivery.

“Commitment to changing training curricula for health care professionals in South Africa and institutionalising postpartum family planning within facilities in Tanzania means that improvements in provision of postpartum family planning and the benefits to women should continue.”

Furey, A. et al. Postpartum contraception - the experience and Findings from the Leading Safe Choices programme in Tanzania and South Africa. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 24 July 2019

https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.15842

Tags: Africa | UK News | Women's Health & Gynaecology

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