**2. Health, economic, and other societal impact of unmet need for contraception**

Postpartum family planning (PPFP) contraceptive options are an effective strategy to reduce this unmet need for contraception [3]. This has the potential to have short-term and long-term impacts on the total fertility rate (TFR) of populations, as well as their maternal, neonatal, and infant morbidity and mortality statistics [6].

PPFP reduces not only the family size but also the number of women seeking induced abortion. However, due to gaping lacunae in PPFP service delivery in LMIC women often suffer from morbidity and mortality related to complications of induced abortion. Women who conceive very soon after childbirth often become aware of their current pregnancy in the late first trimester, or even in the second trimester when she notices a lump in her lower abdomen. She may even have perceived fetal movements. If she has lactational amenorrhea missed periods will not indicate to her that she may be pregnant. If she does not want to continue such late-diagnosed pregnancy the termination itself becomes a protracted and unsafe procedure. Very often such women in their desperation turn to unqualified untrained persons to terminate their pregnancy often in suboptimal settings and beyond the safe limits of pregnancy termination.

If such women who are often multiparous die during the termination they leave behind young children whose care and upbringing are affected having disastrous consequences for their families and the society at large.
