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in India, the effect of family planning indicators on
 nutritional outcomes, and regional variation in India. For
 conducting secondary analysis, data from the recent
 National Family Health Survey was used.


 The study revealed that FP affects nutrition in myriad
 direct and indirect ways. By helping women and
 couples have the number of children they want at the
 healthiest times in life, family planning can benefit
 mothers, infants, and children. Well-spaced births allow
 women’s bodies to recuperate and replenish essential
 nutrients and lead to better nutritional outcomes, such
 as healthy birth weight for their infants. The benefits of
 optimal birth spacing also have far-reaching effects in
 childhood, reducing the prevalence of one key measure
 of malnutrition—stunting—among children under five.
 Also, family planning can help women avoid high-risk
 pregnancies and have children at the healthiest times
 in life. Thus, national and local programs aiming to
 improve nutrition may benefit from strengthening FP
 services and integrating FP strategies into multisectoral
 development policies and implementation plans.

 Studies have also shown that the first 1,000 days of a
 child are the most critical as infants and young children
 are exceptionally vulnerable to poor diet and infection
 during this time. There is a need for strong advocacy
 for empowering women through programs, which can
 improve maternal, infant, and young child nutrition
 (MIYCN). Integration of family planning (FP) services
 (to avoid unintended pregnancy and choose whether
 or when to have a child) and MIYCN programs have a
 crucial role to play.
 nutritional status of mothers and children, birth
 In 2011, the National Rural Health Mission launched   order, and nutritional status of children. When
 the Healthy Timing and Spacing of pregnancies Initiative   births are well-spaced, mothers have more time,
 in three districts of Bihar using the behaviour change   energy, and resources to adequately breastfeed
 communication model developed by Pathfinder’s   and feed their young infants and children.
 PRACHAR program. Although NGOs have had some   Research studies showed that breastfeeding
 success with spacing, they have found it much more   practices improve, leading to improved nutrition,
 difficult to persuade couples to delay the birth of their   leads to empowerment, allowing them to make
 first child until the mother was 18 due to strong social   better choices that ultimately benefit the health
 pressure on newly married couples to demonstrate   and nutrition of children and families.
 fertility by producing a child, especially a son.

 Dr. Sujeet Ranjan is a public health professional and heads the Nutrition theme
 Most fundamentally, spacing affects people in myriad   of Tata Trusts. Dr. Ranjan’s key focus is on social impact, establishing strategic
 ways and it advances human rights. The knowledge   relations and alliances with government, civil society, and social & private sectors.
 His core interest areas are strategy, innovation, and organization building.
 and use of family planning methods can regulate   Dr. Ranjan has also worked as Executive Director – CFNS and Director – CARE
 the planning of birth in terms of birth interval and   India.


 34  Devi Sansthan                                                                             Devi Sansthan 35
 10X GOOD                                                                                         10X GOOD
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