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Tailor information to client's
needs
Provider assesses client's needs and
preferences based on:
- reproductive goals and desired method
- reproductive and sexual history
- medical history
- previous method use and knowledge about contraceptives
- other relevant factors
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In the beginning stage, providers assess the needs and preferences
of each client. Because clients have a range of needs, providers
should cover certain points with each client during the initial
assessment. The amount of detail discussed may vary, depending
on whether the client is new or returning. The assessment includes:
- Reproductive goals of the client and whether the client
has a desired method in mind.
- Basic information such as age, lifestyle, marital status,
and reproductive and sexual history. This tells the provider
how many children the client has had, how many partners he
or she has, and whether STD prevention is something to consider
in method choice.
- Medical history. Providers should make sure a client has
no medical problems that would affect method choice. In general,
providers can determine this information through health-related
questions without using tests.
- Previous method use and knowledge of contraceptives, including
the client’s experience of side effects and other issues.
This information in particular will help the provider know
how to focus the discussion and use time wisely.
- Particular needs of each client that might affect contraceptive
choice, especially first-time clients: whether a woman is
breastfeeding, whether the client’s partner approves
of her using contraception, or whether the client needs a
method that is private. For returning clients, providers need
to assess what has changed since the previous visit.
- Social and cultural context for each client.
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