Using a modern contraceptive method to space pregnancies at least 24 months apart could reduce maternal mortality by up to 40%1Strategies for reducing maternal mortality: getting on with what works
Lancet. 2006 Oct 7; 368(9543):1284-99
Campbell OM, Graham WJ, Lancet Maternal Survival Series steering group
October 7, 2006 and child mortality by 26%.2Rutstein and Winter, 2014 This is a preventive behavior that can be successfully carried out using a number of different modern contraceptive methods.
Birth Spacing
After a live birth, women or their partners use a modern contraceptive method to avoid pregnancy for at least 24 months
Key Points from Global Research
- Involving partners, family members, religious and community leaders in the dialogue around birth spacing can ensure understanding and support to contraceptive users.
- Improving quality, respectful care and provider assistance on birth spacing issues can increase the confidence of users and the likelihood that they will start and continue to use modern contraceptives.
- Maintaining easy and continual access can encourage women and their partners to start and continue to use modern contraceptives for birth spacing.
Behavior Profile Sample: Birth Spacing
A Behavior Profile is a summary analysis of each behavior. This sample draws from global evidence and illustrates the result of using the Create Behavior Profiles Tool to analyze factors, supporting actors and strategies and to ensure logical pathways exist between strategies proposed and factors related to the practice of the behavior. This sample may be used as a starting point or reference for creating Behavior Profiles.
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After a live birth, women or their partners use a modern contraceptive method to avoid pregnancy for at least 24 months Indicator: Percentage of currently married or in union women using family planning for spacing
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Behavior Analysis |
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STEPSWhat steps are needed to practice this behavior?
Click on any box |
FACTORSWhat factors may prevent or support practice of this behavior? These should be analyzed for each country context.StructuralAccessibility: Women and their partners do not have access to modern contraceptives because commodity supply is often irregular or sporadic, especially for certain methods Service Provider Competencies: Women and their partners do not receive guidance on birth spacing because some providers do not emphasize its importance in discussing family planning Service Provider Competencies: Women do not consult service providers about birth spacing because providers are sometimes rude, judgmental, and do not maintain confidentiality SocialNorms: Women and their partners do not consider birth spacing or decide to use modern contraceptives because large families are often the norm and the risks of closely spaced births are not well-understood or accepted Family and Community Support: Women do not use modern contraceptives because community and religious leaders resist these on moral grounds (though they can be supportive of the concept of birth spacing) Gender: Women do not use modern contraceptives or practice birth spacing because men often see large families or a frequently pregnant partner as a sign of virility and strength InternalAttitudes and Beliefs: Women do not use modern contraceptives for birth spacing because they fear side effects Knowledge: Women and their partners do not practice birth spacing because they do not understand the benefits |
SUPPORTING ACTORS AND ACTIONSWho must support the practice of this behavior?InstitutionalLogistics Personnel: Plan and manage contraceptive supplies to ensure consistent supply of stocked commodities Providers: Offer respectful care and comprehensive counseling on the benefits of birth spacing and other specific birth spacing messages CommunityCommunity Leaders: Publicly support birth spacing and seek out spaces to discuss with men and women both on the importance of healthy birth spacing HouseholdMale Partners: Actively support wives to select and implement appropriate birth spacing method |
POSSIBLE PROGRAM STRATEGIESHow might we focus our efforts based on this analysis?Enabling EnvironmentPartnerships and Networks: Extend commodity supply outlets via social franchising or community based distribution networks Partnerships and Networks: Use community and faith-based organizations, including places of worship, to share and discuss birth spacing Systems, Products and ServicesSupply Chain: Enhance use of Logistics Management Information Systems to better estimate contraceptive needs Quality Improvement: Expand birth spacing entry points into Integrated Management of Childhood Illness clinics, postnatal care, etc. Quality Improvement: Integrate specific birth spacing messages and communication skills into pre-service health worker curricula Demand and UseAdvocacy : Develop birth spacing and Family Planning Advocacy Toolkit to garner support from different levels of leadership Communication: Use community open forums (with materials produced above) to discuss birth spacing services Communication: Produce and disseminate birth spacing materials to families that position birth spacing as the healthiest option for a family |
Global Status of Accelerator Behavior
Indicator: Percentage of currently married or in union women using family planning for spacing
The DHS Program Indicator Data API, The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program
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