EPI, a Missed Opportunity for Postpartum Family Planning Utilization

The global unmet need for postpartum family planning remains high, while immunization services are among the most widely utilized health services. Most women in the extended postpartum period want to delay or avoid future pregnancies but many are not using a modern contraceptive method. Establishing systematic screening, counseling, and referral systems from different contact points particularly from infant immunization units may improve family planning access and uptake in the extended postpartum period. Hence, this study is aimed to assess the effect of counseling for family planning at immunization units on postpartum contraceptive uptake during the extended postpartum period.