Quality of family planning counseling and associated factors among women attending family planning clinics at selected health centers in Akaki Kality sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT

Background: Ethiopia has achieved a remarkable improvement in the provision of family planning. The modern contraceptive prevalence rate has shown a fivefold increment in the last two decades, yet the family planning service in the country is still deficient and characterized by poor counseling quality. Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the quality of family planning counseling provided and the associated factors at selected health centers in Akaki Kality sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 678 randomly selected women attending family planning services at health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the quality of family planning counseling. Result: A total of 678 women participated in the study. About 29.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 25.7%-32.6%] of the respondents were adequately counseled. Age groups 37-49 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.7; 95% CI 1.1-6.6], being in marital union (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI 1.2-6.7), attaining secondary education (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.6) or higher education (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI 1.2-4.3), and visit status (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.4) were significantly associated with good counseling. Conclusion: Less than one in three women was counseled adequately. Health professionals should give due attention to younger women, single clients, and clients with their first presentation to the health facility. It also indicates that promoting education among Ethiopian women is crucial for a positive outcome of family planning counseling.