Increase First-time Mothers' Use of Postpartum Family Planning in Bangladesh: The Connect Project

NCT06666036 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: NCR203091
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 2,308
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

While a growing body of programs have shown promise to increase uptake of contraception among FTMs, difficulties remain in scaling beyond small pilot areas and institutionalizing within existing systems. Despite the importance of PNC it remains a neglected area within the maternal and newborn health continuum of care in many areas around the world. Programs working to improve coverage of PNC and PNHVs have faced difficulties with insufficient human resources and health systems, suggesting a need for prioritization of care in settings with limited human resources. Connect's approach aims to strengthen existing government health systems and community-level health efforts, including those supported through local and international non-governmental organizations, by developing and testing light-touch "enhancements" with the goal of increasing PPFP and PNC uptake among FTMs. The investigators will evaluate Connect\'s approach through a cluster randomized control trial.

Conditions

Contraceptive Usage

Keywords

postpartum family planning; first time mothers; modern contraception

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Adoption of Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP):

  1\. Indicator for adopted a modern contraceptive method within 12 months after giving birth (among women who have given birth). Adoption of a modern contraceptive method in the first year after giving birth, among FTMs who have given birth-modern methods are defined here as male condoms, oral contraceptive pills, injectables, and long-active reversible contraception (LARC) methods (implants and intrauterine device (IUD)).

  12 months

• Currently using PPFP

  2\. Currently using a modern contraceptive method (among women who have given birth). Modern methods are defined here as male condoms, oral contraceptive pills, injectables, and long-active reversible contraception (LARC) methods (implants and intrauterine device (IUD)).

  12 months

• Postnatal Care uptake

  3\. Indicator for received any PNC, among FTMs who have given birth. Uptake of facility-based PNC for mother and baby. Care that is reported to be a PNC visit but occurs outside of a health facility is not considered a PNC visit for these indicators.

  12 months

• Timing of Postnatal Care (PNC)

  4\. FTM received PNC within 72 hours of delivery, among FTMs who have given birth more than 72 hours ago. Care that is reported to be a PNC visit but occurs outside of a health facility is not considered a PNC visit for these indicators.

  12 months

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Adopted or Intention to adopt PPFP

  12 months

• Quality of additional PNC

  12 months

• Quality of early PNC

  12 months

• Contraceptive Preferences

  12 months

• Quality of Family Planning Counselling

  12 months

Study Arms (2)

Connect Community Level Enhancements

EXPERIMENTAL

At the community level, Connect enhancements build on standard community health worker (CHW) home visits implemented by the government and pre-existing courtyard meetings implemented by the Government of Bangladesh. Courtyard meetings are led by CHWs and convened monthly for new mothers and their families. CHWs sensitize participants to postpartum family planning (PPFP) and share the importance of available services from facilities. Connect reinforces the regularity of these meetings. CHWs receive additional training to be sensitized to the needs of first time parents and engage first-time mothers to attend. Home Visits: CHWs conduct home visits to women who are pregnant or recently gave birth in their catchment areas. During these visits CHWs provide basic care, information on ANC, PNC and PPFP, and provide access to FP methods. Connect targets home visits to first time mothers and those who gave birth at home. They provide print materials to support PPFP and PNC care.

Behavioral: Connect

Control

NO INTERVENTION

No additional Connect intervention. Pre-existing institutionalized services for expecting and new mothers.

Interventions

Connect BEHAVIORAL

Community level enhancements

Connect Community Level Enhancements

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 14 Years - 25 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Self-identifies as a first time mother
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Pregnant or has child under 5 months
• Aged 14-25

You may not qualify if:

• Younger than 14 or over 25
• Has more than one child or is pregnant and has a child

Sponsors & Collaborators

• George Washington University: lead
• Save the Children: collaborator
• Save the Children International Bangladesh: collaborator
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Technical Assistance Inc

Cox’s Bāzār, Bangladesh

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Contraception Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Reproductive Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 29, 2024
• First Posted: October 30, 2024
• Study Start: May 15, 2023
• Primary Completion: February 2, 2025
• Study Completion: February 2, 2025
• Last Updated: February 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: 2025

Locations

BA (1)