General Family Planning Counseling and Management of Contraceptives Side Effects

The decision to use a family planning method is influenced by knowledge and attitude of the married couple, psychological and sociocultural factors and norms, and spiritual and religious beliefs and values. Family planning involves cognitive decision and behavioral practices that enable a woman to conceive a wanted pregnancy and avoid an unintended pregnancy, whether unwanted or badly timed. In Jordan, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) plateaued in 2009 due to several factors, including providers' bias against some modern methods, particularly long-acting and hormonal methods. The discontinuation rate of family planning methods in Jordan is high, with 64.30% for injectables, 59% for pills, and 15.10% for intrauterine devices (IUDs). This is largely attributed to improper counseling and managing of side effects. Family planning counseling is a critical component of successful family planning services. It involves shared decision-making between the client and provider, which relies on proper client-provider interaction (CPI). Effective CPI is essential for successful counseling and shared decision-making. The client and provider must work together to identify the client's reproductive goals, assess their knowledge and attitudes, and discuss the available family planning methods. The choice of family planning method is influenced by several factors, including availability and quality of methods and services, accessibility to services, individual psycho-social factors, and concerns about adverse events or dissatisfaction with a method's side effects. Other factors that affect method choice include reproductive plans, personal preferences, husband influences and concerns, ability to use the method successfully, prior method-specific experiences, ease of repeat administration, and supportive care from the health care provider. Contraception use helps couples implement their plans and achieve their reproductive goals, avoiding unplanned or unwanted pregnancies. Family planning services are considered a preventive measure to reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Effective family planning counseling and shared decision-making are critical to ensuring that clients make informed choices about their reproductive health.