Table 1 Summary of perceived barriers and facilitators related to postpartum family planning (PPFP) in Burkina Faso and the DRC

Barriers

 • Lack of male engagement

 • Out-of-pocket co-payment of contraceptives

 • Women’s reliance on amenorrhea for pregnancy prevention without knowing its limits

 • Women’s and men’s misconceptions about modern contraception, including prerequisites for lactational amenorrhea method

 • Sexual abstinence supported by religious and traditional norms for up to three to six months (although women reported earlier resumption of sexual activities)

 • Low prioritization by women of scheduled postpartum visits

 • Limited availability of readily accessible methods and stock-outs in health facilities^a

 • Lack of dedicated PPFP counseling materials^a

 • Limited availability of clinic days and scheduled visits dedicated to contraception^a

Facilitators

 • Political will and enabling policies for family planning

 • Support from certain religious leaders and men

 • Negative traditional views on the consequences borne by closely-spaced children and their mothers

 • Six-week postpartum visit dedicated to contraception (albeit poorly attended)