Postpartum family planning: closing the 42-day gap

An ASUTA-led campaign across six facilities in Mpanda DC targets the 42-day postpartum window for FP counselling and uptake.

Most postpartum women in Katavi leave the facility without an FP decision and do not return until after first menses — by which time the protective window has closed. The campaign embedded counselling into the standard 6-week postnatal visit.

Of 612 postnatal visits in the campaign months, 78% included a documented FP counselling session and 51% resulted in method initiation before discharge.