Nutrition and Family Planning Counseling: Integration of postpartum family planning during National Nutrition Weeks in the health district of San, Mali

In Mali 79% of postpartum women have an unmet need for family planning (DHS 2006). Postpartum women have numerous contacts with the health system while seeking child health and nutrition services. One opportunity is the National Nutrition Week (NNW),held every six months and reaches over 70% of postpartum women with vitamin A and deworming. The NNW provides an opportunity to integrate family planning counseling into nutrition activities and to mobilize postpartum women who are potential clients for FP. The pilot activity was implemented by the Nutrition and Reproductive Health divisions of the MOH with technical and financial support of USAID / ATN Plus in July 2011 in the health district of San Mali. Methodology: Interpersonal communication for PPFP at community health centers provided information and new FP users were recruited among women who attended the NNW. During the FPPP counseling, women were given plastic tickets which they presented at the health center for FP services. The activity resulted in over 80% of post partum women receiving interpersonal counseling on FP; 2 times as many new FP users were recorded in the three month period after the NNW than in the entire six month period prior to the NNW. This activity demonstrated that women can receive family planning information in a child health / nutrition setting. The activity can be scaled up at low cost as women are already seeking nutrition services and the addition of FP counseling is feasible through messages on exclusive breastfeeding and return to fertility.