Evaluation of Family Planning Counselling in North Jordan

Abstract

abstract:Objectives: Counselling plays a key role in enhancing reproductive services, providing contraceptionrelated information and supporting long-term family planning for women of childbearing age. This study aimed to evaluate family planning counselling sessions in selected governmental and private clinics in northern Jordan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2016 in Irbid, Jordan. A total of 200 women attending two private clinics affiliated with the Jordanian Association for Family Planning and Protection (JAFPP) and six governmental clinics were invited to participate in the study. Counselling sessions were attended by an independent observer and evaluated with regards to their compliance with the standard Greet, Ask, Tell, Help, Explain, Return (GATHER) framework. Results: A total of 198 women participated in the study (response rate: 99.0%), including 80 women (40.4%) from JAFPP clinics and 118 (59.6%) from governmental clinics. In total, 42.9% of the counselling sessions were deemed adequate, with providers applying 80% or more of the GATHER framework, while 26.8% of the sessions were deemed semi-adequate and 30.3% were considered inadequate. Counselling services provided in the governmental clinics were significantly less adequate than those provided in JAFPP clinics (P <0.001). Conclusion: The quality of counselling services in governmental family planning centres in Jordan needs to be improved to ensure that women receive the highest possible level of care. Healthcare policymakers should therefore focus on developing and supporting effective family planning counselling services in northern Jordan. Keywords

Landscape analysis of family planning research, programmes and policies targeting young people in Jordan: stakeholder assessment and systematic review

“…A few studies have assessed the quality of family planning services offered to young people in Jordan. An evaluation of family planning counselling at selected public and private clinics noted that many government-run facilities lacked private rooms to offer confidential services (49). Other studies found widespread misconceptions among health professionals about the side-effects of family planning methods used by young people (50).…”

How do Jordanian and Syrian youth living in Jordan envision their sexual and reproductive health needs? A concept mapping study protocol

“…Additionally, youth cite concerns that providers do not take them seriously, treat them like children, do not know what information youth need and view youth’s questions as inappropriate 21. An evaluation of services offered at selected public and private clinics in Jordan noted a lack of private rooms at Ministry of Health (MOH) clinics,22 which is a concern that has been echoed by youth 3. Another study found that providers often give incorrect information to youth regarding reproductive health, such as instructing them not to use contraception because of fears over the relationship between FP use and infertility 23.…”

An Evaluation of the Family Planning Counselling Program Utilizing Objective Based Model

“…In total, 42.9% of the counselling sessions were deemed adequate, with providers applying 80% or more of the GATHER framework, while 26.8% of the sessions were deemed semi-adequate and 30.3% were considered inadequate. Counselling services provided in the governmental clinics were significantly less adequate than those provided in JAFPP clinics (Okour et al, 2018).…”