Family Planning Needs during the First Two Years Postpartum in Uganda

Nearly three-quarters of non-first births to young women aged 15-19 occur within an interpregnancy interval of less than 24 months, with almost half of births occurring in the second year postpartum. This trend is associated with increased risk for poor maternal and perinatal outcomes. The DHS data also show that nearly six in 10 (59%) of all non-first births in Uganda are spaced at less than the recommended 24-month interpregnancy interval. Infant deaths decrease by almost half, from 95/1,000 for infants born with interpregnancy intervals of less than 15 months, to 46/1,000 for infants born with interpregnancy intervals between 27 and 38 months. Among Ugandan women within two years postpartum, 69% have an unmet need for family planning, while 25% are using a method of family planning. Contraceptive use is higher among urban postpartum women (34%) than rural (20%). The largest proportion of postpartum family planning users rely on injectables (53%), followed by condoms (12%), the pill (9%), and implants (9%). The data also indicate that the risk of pregnancy increases over time during the two years postpartum, with 37% of sexually active women at risk during the first six months postpartum, peaking at 70% among women 6-11 months postpartum, and remaining essentially unchanged at 69% among women 12-23 months postpartum.