Counseling for Family Planning

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Counseling for Family Planning
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Learning Outcomes for Study this Session

• Adapting the counseling process
• Characteristics and skills of family planning
  counselor.

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Adapting the Counseling Process

• Most providers will need to adapt the counseling
  process according to the
• Area, culture, and physical environment they are
  working in.
• In some service delivery settings the demand for
  services is so high that physical, staffing, and
  time constraints prevent clients from being
  counseled privately.
• In other settings, clients actually prefer the
  group counseling situation due to cultural
  factors.

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Adapting the Counseling Process

• The factors that a provider always has
  responsibility for and most control over are
• Tolerance, empathy, and supportive attitude .
• Respect for clients .
• Technical knowledge .
• Use of a dynamic style of counseling which
  responds to individual client needs .
• Belief in and knowledge that family planning
  saves lives and improves families' quality
  of life .
• Limitations due to lack of space, staff, and
  supplies must be addressed by providers
  creatively and with the health facility staff as
  a team.
• Cultural factors must always be taken into
  account and clients comfort levels and individual
  needs should be satisfied as much as possible by
  providers.

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What does every user of family planning services
have the right to expect?

• Information to understand the advantages and
  availability of family planning
• Access to be able to obtain services, regardless
  of race, creed, social status or lifestyle
• Choice to make decisions freely regarding family
  planning and contraceptive methods
• Safety to practice safe and effective family
  planning
• Privacy access to a private space for receiving
  counseling and services

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What does every user of family planning services
have the right to expect?

• Confidentiality to be certain that any personal
  information will be kept confidential
• Dignity to be treated with courtesy,
  consideration and complete attention
• Comfort to feel comfortable when receiving
  services
• Continuity to receive family planning services
  and supplies at the times when they are necessary
  
• Opinion to express points of view regarding the
  services being offered

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General principles of counseling

• These are the important principles and conditions
  necessary for
• effective counseling
• Privacy find a quiet place to talk.
• Take sufficient time.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Conduct the discussion in a helpful atmosphere.
• Keep it simple use words people in your village
  will understand.
• First things first do not cause confusion by
  giving too much information.
• Say it again repeat the most important
  instructions again and again.
• Use available visual aids like posters and flip
  charts, etc.

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General principles of counseling

• General principles of counseling
• Interact The provider listens, learns and
  responds to the client.
• Tailor information to the client.
• Listening to the client, the providers learn
  what information each client needs.
• Treat each client well.
• The provider is polite, shows respect for every
  client and creates a feeling of trust.
• Clients need information to make informed
  choices.
• Avoid too much information as too much
  information makes it hard to remember really
  important information.
• Provide the method that the client wants.
• Help the client understand and remember.

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Skills and characteristics of a counselor

• Once again, remind yourself of the general skills
  and characteristics you need to be a successful
  counselor.
• What are the most important characteristics you
  should bring to your counseling role?
• The most important characteristics are
• Respect the dignity of others.
• Respect the clients concerns and ideas.
• Be non-judgmental and open.
• Show that you are being an active listener.
• Be empathetic and caring.
• Be honest and sensitive.

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Skills and characteristics of a counselor

• What should family planning counselors be able to
  do?
• Create a comfortable atmosphere for family
  planning users
• Present information clearly
• Encourage the formulation of questions
• Listen and observe attentively
• Be impartial or neutral
• Ask questions in a manner that encourages clients
  to share information and
• feelings
• Facilitate effective counselor-user interaction
• Speak the language of the client
• Have respect for the values and attitudes of
  users

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CONCLUSION

• Family planning counselor should
• Understand, and be sensitive to, cultural and
  psychological factors that may affect clients in
  your village adopting and using family planning
  methods.
• listen carefully to what you are being told, and
  be sure to answer all questions clearly and
  accurately when helping clients in their
  contraceptive choice.
• Try to find out your clients views by
  encouraging them to talk. Do not ask them direct
  and judgmental questions.

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CONCLUSION

• Family planning counselor should have good
  scientific knowledge of all the contraceptive
  methods.
• Understand the practical part of family planning
  methods.
• Should be prepared to answer questions
  comfortably and without embarrassment in relation
  to contraceptive myths, rumors, sexuality,
  sexually transmitted infections (STIs),
  reproductive and personal concerns.

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Thank you