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Research Article: Policy-practice gaps and bottlenecks to postpartum family planning scale-up in the United Republic of Tanzania

Date Published: 2026-10-13

Abstract:
Unintended and closely spaced births remain important public health concerns. Postpartum family planning provides an opportunity to prevent unintended pregnancies and improve maternal and child health outcomes. However, evidence on the implementation bottlenecks affecting PPFP scale-up in Tanzania remains limited. This study assessed implementation bottlenecks affecting the uptake, scale-up and sustainability of PPFP services in Tanzania and identified and prioritized potential actions to address them. A cross-sectional study employing a participatory mixed-methods approach was conducted using an adapted WHO PPFP bottleneck assessment tool, stakeholder survey, in-depth interviews, routine health information and population-based survey data, and review of national policies and guidelines. The online stakeholder survey included 477 invited participants, of whom 424 responded (88.9%). In-depth interviews were conducted with 34 stakeholders from regions representing high and low PPFP uptake. Findings from the different data sources were triangulated and presented during a stakeholder consensus meeting, where bottlenecks were ranked and prioritized and corresponding actions were identified. Routine and survey data indicated substantial variation in PPFP uptake and an increase in postpartum FP counselling over time, but counselling did not consistently translate into PPFP uptake. The assessment identified gaps in provider capacity, motivation, financing, access to and awareness of updated policies and guidelines, referral systems, equitable access, and the scale-up of innovations. Policy reviews further identified gaps between national guidance and implementation, including limitations in dissemination, monitoring, and alignment with WHO recommendations. The consensus process prioritized actions addressing provider motivation, financing, dissemination of updated guidance and job aids, referral systems, equitable access, innovation scale-up, and provider capacity. Tanzania has a supportive policy environment for PPFP, but implementation remains constrained by interconnected health-system, provider, and service-delivery barriers. Addressing these bottlenecks through coordinated investments in financing, provider capacity and motivation, guideline dissemination, referral systems, equitable access, and scale-up of effective innovations is essential to strengthen PPFP implementation and uptake.

Introduction:
Unintended and closely spaced births remain important public health concerns. Postpartum family planning provides an opportunity to prevent unintended pregnancies and improve maternal and child health outcomes. However, evidence on the implementation bottlenecks affecting PPFP scale-up in Tanzania remains limited.

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