Postpartum Family Planning Preliminary DataSet

Strengthened efforts in postpartum family planning (PPFP) is a key priority to accelerate progress in reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes. In Rwanda, approximately 62% of women have unmet family planning needs in their first year after childbirth. This mixed methods secondary data analysis explores factors associated with PPFP uptake. Women (n=68) were surveyed at two time points to glean insights to the antenatal and postnatal care (PNC) experience. Additionally, a total of 202 participants consisting of 22 individual interviews with government and health officials and 16 focus group discussions with men (n=45), women (n=88) and community health workers (n=47) provided insights into current attitudes towards PPFP. Of 68 women surveyed, most (87%) reported not wanting another pregnancy within the next year; however, only half (53%) used PPFP. The partner (male) as the healthcare decision-maker was associated with PPFP uptake (p=0.04). Attitudes of men, women, and healthcare personnel towards PPFP were summarized in four themes: 1) PPFP purpose, 2) men's participation in PPFP decision-making, 3) messaging platform effectiveness, and 4) PNC wait time. These results illustrate that a gap exists in the utilization of PPFP services. Partner (male) involvement, attendance to PNC services, and improved quality of PNC services may improve PPFP utilization in Rwanda.