Primary healthcare practitioners' views and experiences of providing postpartum contraception counselling and care: a rapid review.

BACKGROUND: Primary healthcare practitioners play a pivotal role in postpartum care. Many countries encourage women to attend a postnatal check after birth, providing an ideal opportunity for contraceptive care. However, contraception is often not discussed, increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy and short interpregnancy intervals. OBJECTIVE: To explore primary healthcare practitioners' views and experiences of providing postpartum contraceptive counselling and care to better understand the gaps, needs, and opportunities. METHODS: A rapid review was conducted of English language peer-reviewed primary research studies from high-income countries focussing on primary healthcare practitioners' views and experiences of providing postpartum contraceptive counselling and care. Studies were retrieved from five databases, supplemented by Google Scholar and citation searching. Key characteristics were extracted, and thematic analysis identified key themes. RESULTS: Altogether, 2255 references were identified, with eight studies included. Four themes were constructed: (1) varied knowledge and attitudes regarding postpartum contraception, including views on of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), safety concerns, and optimal counselling timing; (2) structural and logistical barriers to contraception provision in primary healthcare, including lack of LARC availability, time constraints, and funding issues; (3) limited contraception education and training for practitioners in LARC provision, with practitioners lacking skills or motivation to upskill; and (4) gaps in postpartum contraception resources and guidelines needed to promote postpartum contraceptive care. CONCLUSION: Improving postpartum contraceptive counselling requires embedding comprehensive contraceptive training in healthcare education, developing standardized guidelines for postpartum appointments, and addressing barriers such as time constraints, lack of resources and funding to support effective contraception care for postpartum women.