Title: Factors influencing family planning counselling outcomes
Course: Level 3 - Family Planning > Section: Family planning counselling

There are different factors that affect the quality and effectiveness of communication in counselling. You should identify and address these factors to have successful family planning counselling sessions.

These factors are divided into three broad categories:

Factors Related to Provider

As a provider of family planning services, your ability to engage in effective communication, your technical knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours can influence the effectiveness of the counselling process. You will have your values and beliefs on specific methods, and you must try not to let this show or you can affect the other person's choice. Stop reading for a moment and think about this from your experience.

Sometimes you will be communicating with someone who differs from you regarding their social status, gender or education. Irrespective of gender, social and educational status, you have to show every client respect, help them feel at ease, and encourage them to explain their needs, express their concerns and ask questions. Respecting the rights of the client is essential to the quality and continuity of family planning services, including counselling.

The fundamental rights of all family planning clients are the following:

- Information: the right to learn about the benefits and availability of family planning.
- Access: the right to obtain services regardless of sex, creed, colour, marital status, or location.
- Choice: the right to decide freely whether to practice family planning and which method to use.
- Safety: the right to be able to practice safe and effective family planning.
- Privacy: the right to have a private environment during counselling or services.
- Confidentiality: the right to be assured that personal information will remain confidential.
- Dignity: the right to be treated with courtesy, consideration, and attentiveness.
- Comfort: the right to feel comfortable when receiving services.
- Continuity: the right to receive contraceptive services and supplies for as long as needed.
- Opinion: the right to express views on the services offered.

Factors Related to the Client

The client's level of knowledge and understanding may affect their choice. What they choose to do may also be affected by the extent to which they trust and respect you. Their personal situation may make it difficult for them to choose some methods, for example, if their spouse or another family member has a different preference to them.

External and Programmatic Factors

In most developing countries like Ethiopia, reproductive health services in general, and family planning programmes in particular, are limited and cannot be accessed by everyone. You may learn about some methods that you cannot offer to people in your community because of its unavailability. Moreover, the supplies of the family planning materials may not be regular and reliable.

In most health facilities, the space or room for the provision of family planning is integrated with other reproductive health programmes. This situation can make it tough for you to find a place where privacy and confidentiality can be maintained.