- Provide clients with accurate information
- Help clients assess reproductive goals
- Guide clients through process of method
choice
- Do not express personal preferences
or pressure clients
- Be respectful and unbiased toward
all clients
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Clients need complete, accurate and easy-to-understand information.
Providers should clarify any misunderstandings that clients
may have about contraceptives. Providers must also be careful
to give appropriate amounts of information that the client can
absorb and use in making the right choice.
Clients may need the help of providers in assessing their reproductive
goals. These goals include delaying first pregnancy, spacing
births or not having more children. The assessment should determine
if the client has a desired contraceptive method in mind. Many
clients already know their fertility intentions and have decided
on their contraceptive choice, based on previous experience
or information from neighbors, family members, peers, the media
or family life education. Clients should receive their desired
contraceptive method if it is medically appropriate.
Providers should guide clients who do not have a preference
through the process of choosing the right method for their own
particular needs. If a provider presents information about only
one or two methods when other methods are also available and
appropriate, this is a subtle way – even if not intended
– of limiting the client’s choices inappropriately.
Also, providers should not express their own personal preferences
of contraceptive method – or pressure a client to make
a particular choice. When a client makes a choice, the provider
should give that method and not try to change the client’s
mind or help the client to make a “better” choice,
unless the client’s preference is not appropriate for medical
reasons.
Providers should be respectful, tolerant and unbiased toward
all clients. This is also important for other service delivery
staff. For example, a receptionist who prevents some types of
clients from seeing a provider is limiting their choices.
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