Quality of family planning counseling among women attending prenatal care at a hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective: To assess the quality of family planning counseling among women attending a prenatal clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between February and April, 2015, at the prenatal care clinic of Saint Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, pregnant women in their third trimester were interviewed about their experience of family planning counseling. Data were collected via a questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of satisfaction with the counseling service.

Results: During the study period, 400 women were interviewed. Only 139 women (34.8%) were counseled about family planning. Among those counseled, 126 (90.6%) decided to use a contraceptive method after delivery and 46 (36.7%) decided to use an injectable contraceptive. Women were more likely to report high satisfaction when their provider asked about their partner's attitude toward contraceptive methods (adjusted odds ratio 6.6; P<0.001), and when asked about their concerns and worries regarding family planning methods (adjusted odds ratio 5.1; P<0.001).

Conclusion: Very few women were counseled about contraception during prenatal care. Asking about a partner's attitude toward contraceptives and discussing women's fears or worries about contraceptives should be considered during family planning counseling to improve satisfaction and quality of care.

Keywords: Contraceptive; Counseling; Family planning; Patient satisfaction; Prenatal care; Quality.