International Postpartum Family Planning Program: Report on the First Year

Abstract

Since conception occurs at a high rate after the first postpartum menstrual period and since women who have recently been pregnant are highly motivated to contraceptive use the Population Council began the International Postpartum Family Planning Program in 1966 in 25 hospitals in 14 countries. The total target population was 2720434 of which about 10% received family planning education and information. In the first 12 months of the program 101725 patients accepted family planning. 51% accepted IUDs 26% oral contraceptives 10% sterilization and 13% other methods. The expulsion rate for the first 3 months of use was 23.4 per 100 insertions for the obstetrical group and 13.1 for the postabortion group but there was a high rate of reinsertion of 60% to 95%. The median age of direct acceptors was 24.9 years and 27.1 for indirect acceptors. The median number of living children was 2.1 and 2.7 respectively. There was a substantial increase in postpartum return rates due to the family planning program. A sample survey of 1930 women showed that after 6 months only 7% were not using any form of contraception. The total cost per prevented virth is estimated at $24.00 assuming 40399 births were prevented by the program.