Evaluating the impact a proposed family planning model would have on maternal and infant mortality in Afghanistan. (23rd September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rahmani, Ahmad Masoud; Wade, Benjamin; Riley, William
• Is Part Of: International journal of health planning and management. Volume 30:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 71
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2013-09-23
• Subjects: Health planning -- Periodicals; Health services administration -- Periodicals; Santé publique -- Planification -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Administration -- Périodiques; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-6753

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="hpm2206-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>This study aimed to assess the potential impact a proposed family planning model would have on reducing maternal and infant mortality in Afghanistan.</p> </sec> <sec id="hpm2206-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Afghanistan has a high total fertility rate, high infant mortality rate, and high maternal mortality rate. Afghanistan also has tremendous socio‐cultural barriers to and misconceptions about family planning services.</p> </sec> <sec id="hpm2206-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We applied predictive statistical models to a proposed family planning model for Afghanistan to better understand the impact increased family planning can have on Afghanistan's maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate. We further developed a sensitivity analysis that illustrates the number of maternal and infant deaths that can be averted over 5 years according to different increases in contraceptive prevalence rates.</p> </sec> <sec id="hpm2206-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Incrementally increasing contraceptive prevalence rates in Afghanistan from 10% to 60% over the course of 5 years could prevent 11 653 maternal deaths and 317 084 infant deaths, a total of 328 737 maternal and infant deaths averted.</p> </sec> <sec id="hpm2206-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Achieving goals in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in Afghanistan requires a culturally relevant approach to family planning that will be supported by the population. The family planning model for Afghanistan presents such a solution and holds the potential to prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</p> </sec> </abstract>