Intention to use and actual use of postpartum contraceptives among pregnant women in the Mfantseman municipality of Central Region, Ghana

Abstract

Opportunities to reach women with family planning services, can occur along the continuum of care, throughout a woman’s pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Evidence shows that integrating Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP) into Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programmes and services provides opportunities for increased use of family planning among women. This study assessed the intention of pregnant women in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region of Ghana, to use and use postpartum contraceptives and the associated determinants. Changes in reproductive health behaviour were studied in the context of the proximate determinants’ framework. It was a prospective panel study carried out in two phases (1 and 2). Initially, a total of 1,914 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at Saltpond hospital, Mankessim, Anomabo and Biriwa health centres, were interviewed. The second phase was a follow up of 1,359 women who consented to be followed up in the postpartum period. Of that number, 1,004 were re-interviewed at least twelve months after delivery. Prenatal intention to use family planning was a strong predictor of postpartum family planning use and decisions of women to adopt PPFP were influenced by the woman’s acceptability and approval of family planning, supported by the partner. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinic and their partners need to be targeted for education and counselling on postpartum family planning by the midwives and doctors before they deliver.