Postpartum Family Planning for Healthy Pregnancy Outcomes

This manual is intended to promote positive health outcomes for mothers, newborns, and infants by improving health workers' skills in fostering healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy (HTSP). It provides practical information and guidance on how to conduct a two-day training for primary health facility-based health workers in providing postpartum family planning information, education, and counselling, and in increasing postpartum women's access to all family planning (FP) methods and services. The manual is designed for health trainers, nurses, health supervisors, and community health workers who already have basic understanding of and experience with reproductive health (RH)/FP.

Postpartum Family Planning for Healthy Pregnancy Outcomes features a suggested training agenda, research and recommendations on HTSP, use of the GATHER method for HTSP counselling, training tools, and training handouts. Each of the 8 sessions outlined features guidance in the areas of: learning objective(s), advance preparation, required materials, activities and methodology, key messages, background information on the subject, and handouts. Throughout, the manual emphasises participatory training methodologies that promote the active involvement of participants. The assumption is that the role of the trainer is to guide the participants through the learning process; this goes beyond simply providing information. Training techniques used in this manual are designed to take advantage of each participant's knowledge and his or her abilities, ideas, skills, and experiences. In addition, a variety of learning methods, such as audio-visual aids, lectures, brainstorming, group discussions, case studies, and role-plays, are used to "establish an energetic and positive learning environment that fully engages participants and facilitates lasting learning."

This manual is a product of the Extending Service Delivery (ESD) Project, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s Bureau for Global Health. To accomplish its mission, ESD strengthens global learning and application of best practices; increases access to community-level RH/FP services; and improves capacity for supporting and sustaining RH/FP services. ESD is managed by Pathfinder International in partnership with IntraHealth International, Management Sciences for Health, and Meridian Group International, Inc. Additional technical assistance is provided by Adventist Development and Relief Agency International, the Georgetown University Institute for Reproductive Health, and Save the Children.