Adapted from presentation by May Post, ESD Project
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Transcript of Adapted from presentation by May Post, ESD Project
Healthy Timing and Spacing of
Pregnancy (HTSP):For healthy babies, healthy mothers, and
healthy communities
Adapted from presentation by May Post, ESD ProjectConsultation on Faith, Family Planning, and Family Well-being, Georgetown University, April 2011
The technical experts concluded that closely spaced pregnancies can lead to the following:Babies may be:• Born too early• Of low birth
weight• Too small• More likely to
die
Mothers may be:• More likely to die
in childbirth• More likely to
miscarry a pregnancy
• More likely to seek an unsafe abortionSource: Report of a Technical Consultation Report on Birth Spacing (WHO)
Pregnancy TimingWomen under the
age of 18 are twice as likely to die, and women under the age of 15 are five times more likely to die of complications compared to women over18 years of age.
Recommendations from WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA on early age pregnancy
Delay first pregnancy until at least 18 years of age.
Kenyan mother, 2006 Mike Wang, Courtesy of Photoshare
Source: UNICEF, Facts for Life 3rd edition, New York, United nations Children’s Fund , 2002; WHO/UNFPA Pregnant Adolescents: Delivering on Global Promises of Hope, WHO, 2006
HTSP Concept
HTSP helps women:
space pregnancies better time
pregnanciesbecome pregnant
and give birth when it is healthiest and safest for mother and child.
Benefits of HTSP Progress in FP’s role in helping women
avoid unintended pregnancies. Focus on lowered fertility FP’s role in achieving healthy fertility –
much less recognizedThe focus on healthy
fertility encourages couples to use FP - to time and space pregnancies – for improved mother and child health
Benefits of HTSP: For WomenSpacing• A reduced risk of
pregnancy-related complications
• Gives mothers two years to fully prepare for her next pregnancy
Timing:• Physically and
psychologically prepared to become mothers
• Allows time for school and education
What role does education play?Girls’ secondary school is associated with:• Higher immunization
rates• Improved household
nutrition• Lower rates of
domestic violence• Delayed childbearing• Increased use of family
planningIan Diamond et al., “Female Education and Fertility: Examining the Links,” in Critical Perspectives on Schooling and Fertility in the Developing World, ed. Caroline H. Bledsoe et al. (Washington DC: National Academies Press, 1999): 23-45.
Women’s Education & Total Fertility Rate
Benefits of HTSP: For Children
A reduced risk of:• Pre term birth• Low birth weight• SGA (small
baby)• Death
Breastfed for a full 2 years
Undivided attention from the mother
Benefits of HTSP: For MenInvolves men in making
decisions about family planning, child spacing, and the health of the family.
Gives men a feeling of satisfaction when they can guarantee the well being of their families
Allows men time to emotionally and financially prepare for the birth of the next child
Benefits of HTSP: For CommunitiesCommunities will see:
• Less illness and death among mothers, babies, and children
• Improvements in the quality of life• Men and women have
more educational opportunities
• More time to contribute to community development
• Less stress • Reduced poverty
HTSP Messages Support men and women practice healthy timing and
spacing of pregnancy. This means that:1. After a live birth, couples should wait at least 24
months before trying to become pregnant again.2. After a miscarriage or abortion, couples should
wait at least six months before trying to become pregnant again.
3. Adolescents should delay pregnancy until at least 18 years of age.
4. Women and men should use a family planning method of their choice to delay and space their pregnancies.
What can we do?Advocacy: Reaching decision makers with
data and evidenceLeadership: Informed leaders ensuring an
enabling environment Training: Training health workers in HTSP
counselingBCC: Producing educational materials to
support HTSP BCCSmart integration Community education: Educating
communities about HTSP benefits in churches, mosques, schools, workplace, community events.
Annual Global Burden of Disease
>500,000 maternal deaths (70,000 abortion-related; 60,000 eclampsia related)
8 million women suffer complications5.5 million adolescent girls give birth4 million newborn deaths (28% linked
to pre-term births)18 million LBW infants (98% in
developing countries)
HTSP: A Small Change that Produces Big Results
Reducing closely spaced pregnancies
Timing pregnancies at the best age possible
Contributes to the healthiest outcomes for mothers, babies, families and communities.
Final Thoughts
“No woman should die bringing life into the world
and no child should
die when we know how to save them”
UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon