Information Provided by Nurses to Clients during Family Planning Counselling Sessions and Knowledge of Clients on Chosen Method

BACKGROUND: The fundamental problem which prompted this research study lies in the observation that family planning clients do not receive the required information for decision making on the methods that meet their reproductive needs.

OBJECTIVES: To determine family planning information provided to the clients by nurses during family planning counselling sessions in the Khomas region to describe the knowledge of the clients on the specific chosen method

METHODS: A quantitative research design recruited 184 family planning clients and 65 nurses. Closed ended questionnaire was used for data collection.

RESULTS: Majority (89%) of nurses indicated that they always explain the advantages of the method selected to the clients, contrary to the majority (77%) of the clients reported advantages never been explained to them. Ninety five percent of the nurses indicated that they always explain to clients how to use the method they had selected, while the majority (72%) of the clients were in disagreement. The majority of the nurses (78%) indicated that they always explain the possible side effects of the method to their clients while, 63% of the clients indicated that the side effects were not explained to them. Only 22% of the injectable contraceptive users indicated changes in menstrual bleeding as a common side effect, while the majority (66 %) indicated that they did not know.

CONCLUSION: According to clients, information provided to them was inadequate. Equally, the majority of clients had not demonstrated sound knowledge about their method of choice.