Factors Influencing Women’s Postpartum Reproductive Intentions And Their Achievement: A Study In Kerala, India

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The main objective of this study is to explore women’s postpartum reproductive intentions and assess factors associated with whether or not women are able to meet their postpartum reproductive intentions. The study also examines the differences if any, between Jharkhand and Kerala, in factors associated with women’s achievement of their postpartum reproductive intentions.

The study uses a mixed methodology. The first major component involves a longitudinal prospective community-based survey of pregnant women of all parity; starting from seventh month of gestation following through to six months post-partum. There are four rounds of data collection: baseline- to document stated reproductive intentions and reasons for these; at 6 weeks post partum- to document pregnancy outcome and health status of the mother and newborn; and at 24 weeks postpartum – to document achievement or otherwise of stated reproductive intentions. Information related to potential factors influencing reproductive intentions and their achievement is being collected. A cross-sectional survey of husbands of pregnant women covered by the study will be carried out before the woman’s delivery. This is to assess their knowledge and attitude towards contraception and family formation intentions. The study is carried out in two rural blocks in Trivandrum District and the total sample size is 500.

Funding Agency: Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram

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Posted on

November 12, 2015