Lilian Itotayuwa Oyemwinmina
Bridgwater College Somerset, UK
Title: Delivering postpartum family planning services using Africa as a case study: Are providers supportive?
Biography
Biography: Lilian Itotayuwa Oyemwinmina
Abstract
Background: Health service providers play a key role in addressing women’s need for pregnancy prevention during the postpartum period. In Africa, little is known about their views on providing postpartum family planning (PPFP) services and postpartum contraceptive methods such as immediate postpartum intrauterine devices (PPIUD). This paper explores the perspectives of different types of providers on PPFP including PPIUD, their conï¬ dence in providing PPFP services, and willingness to share their knowledge and skills with colleagues after receiving PPFP and PPIUD training.
Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 obstetricians/ gynecologists and nurses from six tertiary level public hospitals in Africa after they received PPFP and PPIUD training as part of integrating PPFP counseling. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a thematic approach.
Results: Providers identiï¬ ed several advantages of PPFP and were willing to transfer their newly acquired skills to colleagues in other facilities who had not received PPFP and PPIUD training. However, many providers identiï¬ ed several supply-side and training-related barriers to providing high quality PPFP services, such as; lack of adequate human resources; lack of IUDs; lack of support from hospital management.
Conclusions: Providers appeared to be motivated to deliver quality PPFP services and transfer their knowledge to colleagues. Efforts to improve provision of quality PPFP services should be address.