“Short-Term Birth Interval:
Counseling Family Planning Patients” 

Friday, 12 October 2007; 1100-1300 ET

New Pre-Recorded Broadcast

CE Credits

Available on GETN/Warrior Satellite Platforms
 

a.  Sponsors:  This program is co-sponsored for Military and Federal GETN subscribers by The American Public Health Association with the Alabama Department of Public Health and Department of Defense Medical Interagency Satellite Program with technical support of the Satellite Education Network (SEN) at Ft. Lee, VA.  

b.  Availability:  This program will be available to military and federal GETN/MIST sites that have GETN/ATN/Warrior digital satellite downlinks.  List of potential GETN receive sites can be seen here:  GETN Site Location. 

MIST affiliate satellite networks such as the VA’s Employee Education System and the Department of Justice Television Network may also carry this program but IAW with their own scheduling. 

There is No C/Ku Band analog satellite for this taped program. 

Videoconferencing may be available to selected military and federal VTC sites using the USA TNET or the USN CNET networks and other VTC networks able to connect to this satellite feed.  Site coordinators using VTC are responsible for their own bridge coordination.

Will this program be Webcast?  Yes, see confirmation!

c.  Target Audience Statement:  Military, federal clinicians, nurses, educators, social workers, health educators, and other healthcare providers and administrators who are involved with family planning programs. 

d.  Program Description:  As early as the 1920s, researchers noted that short-term birth intervals were associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality.  Many studies since show that infants born at a healthy interval are more likely to survive, less likely to be premature of low birth weight, and less likely to be malnourished.  Longer birth intervals are not only healthier for mothers and their children but it enables parents to devote more time to each child in the early years, giver parents more time for activities other than child rearing and often eases pressure on family finances.  Couples and individuals need to make their decisions on birth spacing based on accurate information and with a range of contraceptive options.  Healthcare providers and family planning programs have a responsibility to help them.  Although not always addressed specifically, promoting birth spacing has long been a central goal of family planning programs.  Expanded access to good quality family planning services through a variety of avenues will help women achieve their preferred intervals.  

Program faculty will address the risks associated with short-term birth intervals and describe the need for family planning services after a pregnancy. There will also be a discussion about the promotion of health between pregnancies and the counseling available for women who have recently given birth.  

e. Program Objectives:

·         Define short-term birth interval.
·         Define optimal inter-pregnancy interval.
·         List and describe the various health risks associated with short-term birth intervals and the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes from short-term birth intervals.
·         Describe the need for family planning services following a pregnancy and understand the importance of promoting reproductive and maternal health between pregnancies.
·         Discuss counseling for women who have just given birth.
·         Dispel myths associated with conception during breast feeding or within six weeks postpartum.

f.  Program Faculty: Cynthia E. Dubin, RN, MSN, FNP, CNM; Emory University Regional Training Center