Peer-reviewed article
Perspectives on integrating family planning and nutrition: a qualitative study of stakeholders.
Shinde S, Partap U, Ali NB, Ouédraogo M, Laiser Y et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study explored stakeholders' views on integrating family planning and nutrition services for women of reproductive age. Researchers interviewed 34 global and regional experts to understand the potential value, barriers, and opportunities for combining these services. Stakeholders saw integration as potentially beneficial because family planning and nutrition are biologically linked and combining services could improve access and reduce costs. The study identified systemic, resource-related and contextual factors that either help or hinder integration, and called for more evidence on effective integration models.
Key points
- Stakeholders identified biological links between family planning and nutritional status as a rationale for integration
- Potential practical benefits of integration include increased service coverage, reduced burden on beneficiaries, and improved cost-effectiveness
- Integration models should encompass health systems strengthening, life course and multisectoral approaches
- Facilitators and barriers to integration include systemic, structural, resource-related and contextual factors
- Stakeholders emphasised the need for more robust evidence to support integration and identify cost-effective models
Limitations
This study captures stakeholders' perspectives and experiences but does not evaluate the actual impact of integrated services on health outcomes. The sample consists of global and regional experts rather than implementation sites, so findings may not reflect ground-level feasibility or effectiveness.
Abstract
Background Limited information is available on the value of integrating family planning and nutrition services to improve related outcomes among women of reproductive age and effective approaches to achieve this. This study aimed to ascertain the perspectives and experiences of global and regional stakeholders about integrating family planning and nutrition services, examine facilitators and barriers and identify opportunities and considerations for integration. Methods We conducted semistructured interviews with 34 global and regional stakeholders in family planning, nutrition and related domains. Participants were identified through purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted virtually, recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Stakeholders considered the integration of family planning and nutrition services potentially valuable given the biological links between family planning and nutritional status, and potential practical benefits including increased service coverage, reduced burden on beneficiaries to access services and increased cost-effectiveness of service delivery. Integration was commonly described within the context of comprehensive health service packages, with integration models encompassing health systems strengthening, life course and multisectoral approaches. Facilitators and barriers included systemic and structural, resource-related and contextual factors. The need for more robust evidence to support integration and identify effective and cost-effective integration models was emphasised. Conclusions Integrating family planning with nutrition services and both with other health services directed towards women of reproductive age and their children may offer greater value in improving health and related outcomes, as opposed to siloed approaches. Further evidence quantifying benefits and highlighting the effectiveness of such integration strategies is key to informing future programmatic efforts.