Family planning for new mothers in the Philippines

Abstract

When a mother becomes pregnant too soon after giving birth, she places her own health and that of her children at risk. To reduce this risk, the months right after childbirth are a critical time for women to begin, or to resume, using family planning. A recent survey in the Philippines indicates that only 7 percent of women who visit a health facility for postpartum care accept a family planning method in the first six months after childbirth. Many providers do not have a good understanding of when new mothers should begin using contraception or what methods are appropriate for women who have recently given birth.