Healthy Timing and Spacing of

Pregnancy (HTSP):For healthy babies, healthy mothers, and

healthy communities

Adapted from presentation by May Post, ESD ProjectConsultation on Faith, Family Planning, and Family Well-being, Georgetown University, April 2011

The technical experts concluded that closely spaced pregnancies can lead to the following:Babies may be:• Born too early• Of low birth

weight• Too small• More likely to

die

Mothers may be:• More likely to die

in childbirth• More likely to

miscarry a pregnancy

• More likely to seek an unsafe abortionSource: Report of a Technical Consultation Report on Birth Spacing (WHO)

Pregnancy TimingWomen under the

age of 18 are twice as likely to die, and women under the age of 15 are five times more likely to die of complications compared to women over18 years of age.

Recommendations from WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA on early age pregnancy

Delay first pregnancy until at least 18 years of age.

Kenyan mother, 2006 Mike Wang, Courtesy of Photoshare

Source: UNICEF, Facts for Life 3rd edition, New York, United nations Children’s Fund , 2002; WHO/UNFPA Pregnant Adolescents: Delivering on Global Promises of Hope, WHO, 2006

HTSP Concept

HTSP helps women:

space pregnancies better time

pregnanciesbecome pregnant

and give birth when it is healthiest and safest for mother and child.

Benefits of HTSP Progress in FP’s role in helping women

avoid unintended pregnancies. Focus on lowered fertility FP’s role in achieving healthy fertility –

much less recognizedThe focus on healthy

fertility encourages couples to use FP - to time and space pregnancies – for improved mother and child health

Benefits of HTSP: For WomenSpacing• A reduced risk of

pregnancy-related complications

• Gives mothers two years to fully prepare for her next pregnancy

Timing:• Physically and

psychologically prepared to become mothers

• Allows time for school and education

What role does education play?Girls’ secondary school is associated with:• Higher immunization

rates• Improved household

nutrition• Lower rates of

domestic violence• Delayed childbearing• Increased use of family

planningIan Diamond et al., “Female Education and Fertility: Examining the Links,” in Critical Perspectives on Schooling and Fertility in the Developing World, ed. Caroline H. Bledsoe et al. (Washington DC: National Academies Press, 1999): 23-45.

Women’s Education & Total Fertility Rate

Benefits of HTSP: For Children

A reduced risk of:• Pre term birth• Low birth weight• SGA (small

baby)• Death

Breastfed for a full 2 years

Undivided attention from the mother

Benefits of HTSP: For MenInvolves men in making

decisions about family planning, child spacing, and the health of the family.

Gives men a feeling of satisfaction when they can guarantee the well being of their families

Allows men time to emotionally and financially prepare for the birth of the next child

Benefits of HTSP: For CommunitiesCommunities will see:

• Less illness and death among mothers, babies, and children

• Improvements in the quality of life• Men and women have

more educational opportunities

• More time to contribute to community development

• Less stress • Reduced poverty

HTSP Messages Support men and women practice healthy timing and

spacing of pregnancy. This means that:1. After a live birth, couples should wait at least 24

months before trying to become pregnant again.2. After a miscarriage or abortion, couples should

wait at least six months before trying to become pregnant again.

3. Adolescents should delay pregnancy until at least 18 years of age.

4. Women and men should use a family planning method of their choice to delay and space their pregnancies.

What can we do?Advocacy: Reaching decision makers with

data and evidenceLeadership: Informed leaders ensuring an

enabling environment Training: Training health workers in HTSP

counselingBCC: Producing educational materials to

support HTSP BCCSmart integration Community education: Educating

communities about HTSP benefits in churches, mosques, schools, workplace, community events.

Annual Global Burden of Disease

>500,000 maternal deaths (70,000 abortion-related; 60,000 eclampsia related)

8 million women suffer complications5.5 million adolescent girls give birth4 million newborn deaths (28% linked

to pre-term births)18 million LBW infants (98% in

developing countries)

HTSP: A Small Change that Produces Big Results

Reducing closely spaced pregnancies

Timing pregnancies at the best age possible

Contributes to the healthiest outcomes for mothers, babies, families and communities.

Final Thoughts

“No woman should die bringing life into the world

and no child should

die when we know how to save them” 

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon