RESUMO
PIP: This article presents preliminary findings of a study conducted by the Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception (AVSC) designed to investigate women's interest in postpartum contraception and the preferred timing for getting information. A pioneering study, AVSC's research took place in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mali, and Turkey. In each countries, AVSC conducted 4-6 focus groups with pregnant women, interviews with 100 postpartum women, and interviews with 30 service providers. While a final report is due out in January, AVSC has established some preliminary findings. Except in Turkey, more than 1/2 the postpartum women said that they would have been interested in receiving family planning information before and during pregnancy. In nearly all the countries, the unmet need for information was great. Only in Mali and Kenya, where AVSC introduced postpartum IUD projects last year, was there less of an unmet need. While 40% of Kenyan women leaving the hospital after delivery had adopted a contraceptive method, only 3% and 2% of the women in the Dominican Republic and Turkey, respectively, were leaving the hospital with a method. The overwhelming majority women thought that family planning should be provided prior to pregnancy or during prenatal care. Focus group discussions revealed that virtually all women thought that during labor was a bad time to get information, and that information could be given during postpartum visits or before a woman leaves the hospital after delivery. Responses by service providers were similar to those of women, except that most thought it would be appropriate to discuss family planning during labor. AVSC will use the findings of this study to design informational materials for postpartum contraception programs.^ieng