Importance of Counselling

The importance of counselling in family planning is to help the client to make, and arrive at, informed
and well-considered voluntary choices about their fertility, or help a client to decide on the number of
children they want and when to have them.

Six Principles of FP Counselling

1. Treat each client well. Be polite, show respect to all clients, and create a feeling of trust.
2. Interact. Listen, learn, and respond to your client.
3. Tailor information to fit the client’s needs. This will bridge the gap between what you, the
provider, knows, and the client’s understanding.
4. Avoid giving too much information, as this may make it hard for the client to remember the
more important ones. Doing so leaves ample time for the client’s questions, concerns, and
opinions.
5. Provide the method that the client wants.
6. Help the client understand and remember.

Components of Family Planning

Counseling
 Counseling is an important prerequisite for the initiation and continuation of a family planning
method. Service providers should be trained to provide counseling about all available methods
of family planning. There should be no incentives or coercion to adopt family planning or a
particular contraceptive method.

Provision of Contraceptives
 Contraceptives should be provided to clients in accordance with approved method-specific
guidelines and by service providers who have been trained in the provision of that method.

Followup and Referral System

 All clients who choose a family planning method should be informed of the appropriate follow
up requirements and encouraged to return to the service provider should they have any
concerns. Service providers should follow the established referral system when making client
referrals.

Record Keeping
 All family planning service providers should maintain adequate records to identify each client,
the type of contraception provided and any special circumstances associated with its provision.

Supervision
 Supervision is an essential component of program evaluation. It helps ensure that the needs of
clients are being met and service delivery guidelines are being followed. The supervisor is a team
member who promotes staff motivation, helps in problem solving and ensures that the rights of
service providers and clients are observed.

Logistics
 Maintenance of an effective logistic and supply system helps staff at service delivery points
(SDPs) avoid both understocking and overstocking. In order to maintain quality services, SDP
 staff should adhere to procedures for proper storage and handling of contraceptive commodities
as well as other supplies.

SIX STEPS IN COUNSELING NEW CLIENTS

1. Greet clients in an open, respectful manner.
2. Ask clients about their family planning and reproductive health experience, concerns, wishes,
and their current health and family life.
3. Tell clients about what reproductive health choices he or she can make.
4. Help clients make an informed choice
5. Explain fully how to use the chosen method.
6. Return visits should be welcomed.

SKILLS IN COUNSELING
1. Listening
2. Empathy
3. Genuiness
4. Unconditional positive regard
5. Concreteness
6. Open questions
7. Counselor Self-Disclosure
8. Interpretation
9. Information Giving and Removing Obstacles to Change

FACTORS AFFECTING COUPLE’S ACCEPTANCE & NON-ACCEPTANCE OF FP

 limited choice of methods;
 limited access to contraception, particularly among young people, poorer segments of
populations, or unmarried people;
 fear or experience of side-effects;
 cultural or religious opposition;
 poor quality of available services;
 gender-based barriers