Background: Family planning services in the post-partum period, termed post-partum family planning (PPFP) is critical to cover the unmet need for contraception, especially when institutional delivery rates have increased. However, the intention to choose PPFP methods such as post-partum intrauterine devices (PPIUD) remains low in countries such as Nepal. Community health workers such as Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) could play an important role in improving the service coverage of PPFP in Nepal. However, their knowledge of PPFP and community-based services related to PPFP remain unclear. This study aims to assess the effect on communitybased PPFP services by improving FCHV's knowledge through orientation on PPFP. Methods: We conducted this mixed-methods study in Morang District in Nepal. The intervention involved orientation of FCHVs on PPFP methods. We collected quantitative data from three sources; via a survey of FCHVs that assessed their knowledge before and after the intervention, from their monthly reporting forms on counseling coverage of women at different stages of pregnancy from the communities, and by interviewing mothers in their immediate post-partum period in two selected hospitals. We also conducted six focus group discussions with the FCHVs to understand their perception of PPFP and the intervention. We performed descriptive and multivariable analyses for quantitative results and thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results: In total, 230 FCHVs participated in the intervention and their knowledge of PPFP improved significantly after it. The intervention was the only factor significantly associated with their improved knowledge (adjusted odds ratio = 24, P < 0.001) in the multivariable analysis. FCHVs were able to counsel 83.3% of 1872 mothers at different stages of pregnancy in the communities. In the two hospitals, the proportion of mothers in their immediate postpartum period whom reported they were counseled by FCHVs during their pregnancy increased. It improved from 7% before the intervention to 18.1% (P < 0.001) after the intervention. The qualitative findings suggested that the intervention improved their knowledge in providing PPFP counseling. Conclusion: The orientation improved the FCHV's knowledge of PPFP and their community-based counseling. Follow-up studies are needed to assess the longer term effect of the FCHV's role in improving community-based PPFP services.

Background The use of post-partum family planning (PPFP) methods such as post-partum intrauterine device (PPIUD) in general remains low despite its benefits for the women. The reasons or factors affecting the uptake and continuation of such PPFP methods in developing countries such as Nepal remains unclear. This qualitative research aims to explore the factors affecting PPIUD uptake and continuation related behaviors among post-partum mothers within 6 weeks of childbirth in Nepal. Methods This qualitative study was conducted through 43 in-depth interviews among post-partum mothers who delivered in 3 selected hospitals in Nepal. Data were analyzed through content analysis using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as the theoretical framework. Results The themes and categories were structured around the three major components of the TPB on attitude, subjective norms, and behavioral control. Majority of the women in this study, irrespective of their behavioral outcome expressed a positive attitude towards PPIUD use. However, the women who expressed an unfavorable attitude towards PPIUD influenced their behavior to not choose or discontinue PPIUD. Subjective norms such as the family, peer, and societal influences against PPIUD negatively affected the women’s intention and behavior related to PPIUD. Whereas, the positive influence of the health providers positively affected their behavior. Regarding the behavior control, women who had their own control over decisions tended to use PPIUD. However, external factors such as their husband’s preference or medical conditions also played a prominent role in preventing many to use PPIUD despite their positive intentions. Conclusion As suggested in TPB, this study shows that multiple factors that are interlinked affected the behaviors related to uptake and continuation of PPIUD. The attitude helped in s`haping intention but did not always lead to the behavioral outcome of PPIUD uptake and continuation. Subjective norms had a strong influence on both intention and behavior. Behavior control belief also had an important role in the outcome with respect to PPIUD uptake and continuation. Thus, a more layered, multidimensional and interlinked intervention is necessary to bring positive behavior changes related to PPIUD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12884-019-2310-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Training and mentoring activities were perceived to be useful by health providers and OJT was the approach preferred by the majority. Further studies are necessary to explore the existing challenges and long-term effects of each modality of training and mentoring on health providers' competency and attitudes and on the uptake of PPIUD by postpartum mothers.

Introduction: Nepal Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists jointly with the Nepalese governmentand with the support from the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology hasimplemented an initiative to institutionalize postpartum family planning services in selected majorreferral facilities of Nepal to address the gap of low uptake of postpartum family planning in Nepal.The aim of the study is to find the prevalence of the service coverage of postpartum contraception inthe selected facilities. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in seven major referral facilities acrossNepal. Data were collected from the hospital records of all women who delivered in these facilitiesbetween October 2018 and March 2019. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from NepalHealth Research Council. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 23. Results: Among the 29,072 deliveries from all the facilities, postpartum family planning counselingcoverage was 27,301 (93.9%). The prevalence of uptake of Postpartum Intrauterine Device is 1581(5.4%) and female sterilization is 1830 (6.3%). In total 11387 mothers (52.2%) had the intention tochoose a postpartum family planning method. However, 36% of mothers neither used nor had theintention to choose a postpartum family planning method. Conclusions: The coverage of Postpartum Intrauterine Device counseling service coverage in Nepal ishigher in 2018 as compared to 2016-2017 and in other countries implementing Postpartum IntrauterineDevice initiatives. However, the prevalence of service coverage of immediate Postpartum FamilyPlanning methods, mainly Postpartum Intrauterine Device in 2018 is lower in Nepal as compared to2016-2017, and other countries implementing Postpartum Intrauterine Device initiative. More effortsare needed to encourage mothers delivering in the facilities to use the postpartum family planningmethod.