Title:
Birth spacing and informed family planning choices after childbirth in Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo: participatory action research to design and evaluate a decision-making tool for providers and their clients
Authors: Nguyen Toan Tran, Maurice Yamaego, Félicité Langwana, Seni Kouanda, Blandine Thieba, Désiré Mashinda, Rachel Yodi, Jean Nyandwe Kyloka, Tieba Millogo, Abou Coulibaly, Souleymane Zan, Brigitte Kini, Bibata Ouedraogo, Fifi Puludisi, Asa Cuzin-kihl, Suzanne Reier, James Kiarie, Mary Eluned Gaffield
TRAN Nguyen Toan1,8 nguyen-toan.tran@unige.ch YAMAEGO Maurice2 yamwamb@gmail.com LANGWANA Félicité3 flangwana@gmail.com KOUANDA Seni2 skouanda@irss.bf THIEBA Blandine2 thieblan@yahoo.fr MASHINDA Désiré3 desiremashinda@facmed-unikin.net YODI Rachel3 yodirachel@gmail.com NYANDWE KYLOKA Jean3 jnyandwe@gmail.com MILLOGO Tieba2 millogorod@gmail.com COULIBALY Abou2 samsoncoul@gmail.com ZAN Souleymane4 zans@who.int KINI Brigitte5 kininsikub@who.int OUEDRAOGO Bibata6 samsoncoul@yahoo.fr PULUDISI Fifi7 puludisufifi@gmail.com CUZIN-KIHL Asa8 cuzina@who.int REIER Suzanne8 sreier@edc.org KIARIE James8 kiariej@who.int GAFFIELD Mary Eluned8* gaffieldm@who.int
1. Institute of Demography and Socioeconomics (IDESO), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney NSW 2007, Australia. 2. Research Institute in Health Sciences (Institut de Recherche en Sciences) de la Santé & African Institute of Public Health (Institut Africain de la Santé Publique), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. 3. School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
4. World Health Organization Country Office in Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. 5. World Health Organization Country Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. 6. Bokin Medical Center (Centre Médical de Bokin), District sanitaire de Yako, Région du Nord, Burkina Faso. 7. Bumbu Mother and Child Center (Centre Mère et Enfant de Bumbu), Commune de Bumbu, Province de Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. 8. Department of Reproductive Health Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
*Corresponding author at: Department of Reproductive Health Research, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Genève 27, Switzerland, telephone and fax: +41227914171, email: gaffieldm@who.int
Abstract
Objectives: Postpartum family planning (PPFP) is essential for maternal and newborn health but is often not systematically addressed before or after childbirth. This article describes the development and field-testing of a PPFP counseling tool to support providers and women. Methods: Participatory action research involving women, men, providers, policymakers, contraceptive experts, and researchers from Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Results: The final tool consists of a light A4-size flipchart with illustrations on the client side and clinical information and counseling tips on the provider side. Qualitative results suggest that the tool is easily understandable, user-friendly, relevant, and useful with regard to providing PPFP information to clients, and respectful of clients’ rights and choices. It may have a positive influence on clients’ attitudes towards PPFP and their decision to use contraception.
Conclusions: The tool holds promise in guiding a systematic discussion on birth spacing options among providers and clients. Its impact on contraceptive uptake requires further research.