Le premier article issu de la recherche opérationnelle menée avec l’OMS Genève sur la Planification Familiale du post Partum. Recherche menée en RDC et au Burkina faso

Title:

Birth spacing and informed family planning choices after childbirth in Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo: participatory action research to design and evaluate a decision-making tool for providers and their clients

Authors: Nguyen Toan Tran, Maurice Yamaego, Félicité Langwana, Seni Kouanda, Blandine Thieba, Désiré Mashinda, Rachel Yodi, Jean Nyandwe Kyloka, Tieba Millogo, Abou Coulibaly, Souleymane Zan, Brigitte Kini, Bibata Ouedraogo, Fifi Puludisi, Asa Cuzin-kihl, Suzanne Reier, James Kiarie, Mary Eluned Gaffield


TRAN Nguyen Toan1,8           nguyen-toan.tran@unige.ch
YAMAEGO Maurice2              yamwamb@gmail.com
LANGWANA Félicité3            flangwana@gmail.com
KOUANDA Seni2                    skouanda@irss.bf
THIEBA Blandine2                  thieblan@yahoo.fr
MASHINDA Désiré3                desiremashinda@facmed-unikin.net
YODI Rachel3                          yodirachel@gmail.com
NYANDWE KYLOKA               Jean3 jnyandwe@gmail.com
MILLOGO Tieba2                    millogorod@gmail.com
COULIBALY Abou2                 samsoncoul@gmail.com
ZAN Souleymane4                  zans@who.int
KINI Brigitte5                            kininsikub@who.int
OUEDRAOGO Bibata6            samsoncoul@yahoo.fr
PULUDISI Fifi7                         puludisufifi@gmail.com
CUZIN-KIHL Asa8                    cuzina@who.int
REIER Suzanne8                     sreier@edc.org
KIARIE James8                         kiariej@who.int
GAFFIELD Mary Eluned8*        gaffieldm@who.int


1. Institute of Demography and Socioeconomics (IDESO), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Australian Centre for Public and Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney NSW 2007, Australia.
2. Research Institute in Health Sciences (Institut de Recherche en Sciences) de la Santé & African Institute of Public Health (Institut Africain de la Santé Publique), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
3. School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

4. World Health Organization Country Office in Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
5. World Health Organization Country Office in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
6. Bokin Medical Center (Centre Médical de Bokin), District sanitaire de Yako, Région du Nord, Burkina Faso.
7. Bumbu Mother and Child Center (Centre Mère et Enfant de Bumbu), Commune de Bumbu, Province de Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
8. Department of Reproductive Health Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

*Corresponding author at: Department of Reproductive Health Research, World Health
Organization, Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Genève 27, Switzerland, telephone and fax: +41227914171, email: gaffieldm@who.int


Abstract

Objectives: Postpartum family planning (PPFP) is essential for maternal and newborn health but is often not systematically addressed before or after childbirth. This article describes the development and field-testing of a PPFP counseling tool to support providers and women.
Methods: Participatory action research involving women, men, providers, policymakers, contraceptive experts, and researchers from Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Results: The final tool consists of a light A4-size flipchart with illustrations on the client side and clinical information and counseling tips on the provider side. Qualitative results suggest that the tool is easily understandable, user-friendly, relevant, and useful with regard to providing PPFP information to clients, and respectful of clients’ rights and choices. It may have a positive influence on clients’ attitudes towards PPFP and their decision to use contraception.

Conclusions: The tool holds promise in guiding a systematic discussion on birth spacing options among providers and clients. Its impact on contraceptive uptake requires further research.