Client-Centered Care

© 1995 Lamia Jaroudi/CCP, Courtesy of Photoshare

When clients receive services that are tailored to their needs, they are more likely to find a suitable method, continue using family planning, and return to a provider when they need help or another method. Client-centered care means that clients’ needs guide the planning and implementation of family planning services. It also means that services meet medical standards, which requires providers’ commitment and expertise. 

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Interviews with Family Planning Experts (7 resources)

Included in this section of the Toolkit are a series of audio and video interviews with family planning experts discussing client-centered care, including the importance of listening to clients and shaping programs around their needs. Examples of other successful aspects of client-centered care are also reviewed. Furthermore, several interviewees talk about the importance of addressing adolescent family planning and reproductive health needs, including the challenges to successfully reaching and serving this population.

    Quality Service Delivery (11 resources)

    Understanding the needs, attitudes and cultures of family planning clients will enable family planning providers to offer better quality services. This section of the Toolkit includes several resources on providing quality of care, client satisfaction, and addressing the needs of continuing family planning clients.

      Client-Provider Interactions (5 resources)

      Good client-provider interaction (CPI) is key to successful family planning use, services and programs. Here you will find resources how clients, providers and programs can support and improve CPI as well as best practices in CPI.

        Screening and Counseling (15 resources)

        Thorough and quality screening and counseling practices enable family planning clients to make well-informed decisions based on their reproductive goals, individual circumstances, and lifestyles. This section of the Toolkit includes resources on screening and counseling family planning clients. You also will find job aids and tools that take a client-centered approach to family planning service delivery. These resources can help providers screen and counsel clients as well as educate clients about family planning methods and involve them in the decision-making process.