Does prolonged postpartum insusceptibility undercut the impact of postpartum family planning programming in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Integrating family planning into postpartum care at health facilities is a well-regarded health intervention recommended by major organizations in the sexual and reproductive health space. However, several recent studies have found limited to no effects on rates of short-spaced pregnancies associated with these interventions. This paper will investigate the role of prolonged postpartum insusceptibility to pregnancy due to abstinence and breastfeeding alongside other factors in reducing the impact of increased postpartum contraceptive use, ultimately concluding that these factors may substantially reduce the efficacy of postpartum family planning programming at reducing unintended short-spaced pregnancies.