FRONTIERS Projects | Improving Client Informed Choice, Continuation of Family Planning, Method Mix, and Cost-effectiveness at the Postpartum/Postabortion Clinic of the Gineco-Obstetrics Hospital

FRONTIERS PROJECT
Improving Client Informed Choice for Postpartum/Postabortion Clients

Researchers conducted an operations research study (formally titled "Improving Client Informed Choice, Continuation of Family Planning, Method Mix, and Cost-effectiveness at the Postpartum/Postabortion Clinic of the Gineco-Obstetrics Hospital") at a large public hospital of the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS) to improve various aspects of the quality of reproductive health care services. Personnel were trained to use an improved counseling model. Results showed that with balanced counseling, the amount of information remembered by clients about their chosen method increased by about 35 percent, and the percentage of clients who remembered information about STI/HIV prevention increased by 33 percent. The mix of contraceptive methods did not change as a consequence of the intervention.

Location

Guatemala

Duration

April 2001–December 2002

Population Council researcher

Carlos Brambila

Non-Council collaborators

Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS)

Donor

US Agency for International Development

Publications/Resources
Council researchers' names appear in boldface type.

2003
León, Federico R., Carlos Brambila, Marisela de la Cruz, John H. Bratt, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Verónica Dávila, Carlo Bonatto, and Alex Ríos. "Effects of IGSS' job aids-assisted balanced counseling algorithms on quality of care and client outcomes," FRONTIERS Final Report. Washington, DC: Population Council. (PDF, 900 KB)

León, Federico R., Alex Ríos, Adriana Zumarán, Marisela de la Cruz, Carlos Brambila, and John H. Bratt. "Enhancing quality for clients: The balanced counseling strategy," FRONTIERS Program Brief no. 3. Washington, DC: Population Council. (full text)