Uptake and correlates of contraception among postpartum women in Kenya: results from a national cross-sectional survey

Objective The objective was to characterize uptake and correlates of effective contraceptive use postpartum. Study design We analyzed data from a national, cross-sectional evaluation of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programs that enrolled women attending 6-week or 9-month infant immunization visits at 120 Kenyan maternal and child health clinics. We classified women who resumed sexual activity postpartum and did not desire a child within 2 years as having a need for family planning (FP). Results We included 955 (94%) of 1012 women 8–10 months postpartum in the analysis. Mean age was 25.8 years and 36% were primigravidas. By 9 months postpartum, 62% of all women used contraception and 59% used effective contraception [injectables, implants, intrauterine devices [IUDs], oral contraceptives [OCs] and tubal ligations]. Most contraceptive users (61%) used injectables, followed by implants (10%), OCs (6%), IUDs (4%) and condoms alone (2%). The majority (n=733, 77%) had a need for FP, and 67% of 733 women with FP need used effective contraception. Among women with a need for FP, effective contraception use was higher among those who discussed FP in postnatal care (PNC) than who did not discuss FP in PNC [prevalence ratio (PR) for PNC alone: 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–1.58; PR for PNC and antenatal care (ANC): 1.42, 95% CI: 1.21–1.67; p=.001 for both]. Conclusions Two thirds of postpartum women with a need for FP used effective contraception at 9 months postpartum, and use was associated with discussing FP during PNC. Implications Integrating FP counseling in ANC/PNC could be an effective strategy to increase effective contraception use.