Publication: The Potential for Integrating Community-Based Nutrition and Postpartum Family Planning : Review of Evidence and Experience in Low-Income Settings
Date
2013-11
ISSN
Published
2013-11
Author(s)
Alvesson, Helle M.
Mulder-Sibanda, Menno
Abstract
The objective of this review was to
study where community-based family planning and nutrition
programs have been integrated, how this has been
accomplished, and what the results have been. Although
family planning is a nontraditional intervention in
community-based nutrition programs, it can have profound
effects on maternal and child health and nutrition. When
family planning does not occur, short intervals between
pregnancies deplete mothers' reserves of nutrients
needed for pregnancy and later for breastfeeding. As a
result, short birth intervals are associated with higher
maternal and neonatal mortality and malnutrition rates of
infants. Family planning, which promotes contraceptive use
and the lactational amenorrhea method, can thus improve
nutrition outcomes in both mothers and babies. The authors
identified a few studies on integrated services in the
published literature; thus the main part of the review is
built on operational research studies and unpublished
smaller scale intervention studies. However, the controlled
studies that were identified indicate positive correlation
between breastfeeding levels and increased contraception
use. Additionally, although the design of the intervention
studies did not make it possible to assess the degree to
which integration had an impact, the studies did highlight
factors that were key to a successful integration process.
These are community engagement; multiple and frequent
contact points between mothers, community volunteers, and
health workers; involvement of husbands; moving
implementation decisions closer to the users of the program;
and assuring transparency, clarity, and simplicity in the
transmission of development objectives to communities.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Alvesson, Helle M.; Mulder-Sibanda, Menno. 2013. The Potential for Integrating Community-Based Nutrition and Postpartum Family Planning : Review of Evidence and Experience in Low-Income Settings. Health, Nutrition, and Population (HNP)
discussion paper;. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17848 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”