Barriers Facing Postpartum Family Planning among Women Attending Family Medicine Units in 6th of October City

Abstract

Population growth in Egypt is dramatically increasing. Recent increase in total fertility rate, predicts more future increase. If the current annual population growth rate of 2.5 percent continues, Egypt‟s population will hit 120 million in 2030, fertility has risen (by half a child) to 3.5 births after experiencing a plateau of 3 births for years. Postpartum family planning (PPFP) plays an important role in FP services, it defined as; the prevention of unintended pregnancy and closely spaced pregnancies through the first 12 months following childbirth. It is an important component of maternal health care, through birth spacing and prevention of high-risk and unwanted pregnancies. An increase in contraceptive use during the postpartum period shall substantially reduce maternal and infant mortality rates by preventing unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and by spacing new pregnancies at least two years after the previous birth. The study was conducted to reveal the gap of information about PPFP, outline the main barriers and reveal the role of antenatal counseling to increase PPFP rate in our society. The objectives of the study: To measure the rate of PPFP among women attending family medicine units in 6 October city, identify the effect of PPFP on pregnancy spacing , identify