La planificación de la familia: el Mundial de Referencia para proveedores

How can this book help? By enabling health care providers to give better care to

more people. In a straightforward, easily used way, this book translates scientific

evidence into practical guidance on all major contraceptive methods. This

guidance reflects the consensus of experts from the world’s leading health

organizations. With this book in hand, a provider can confidently serve clients

with many different needs and knowledgeably offer a wide range of methods.

The World Health Organization (WHO) appreciates the many contributions

to this book made by people from around the world. The collaboration to

develop, by consensus, an evidence-based book of this scope and depth is a

remarkable achievement. WHO would like to thank particularly the Johns

Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication

Programs for its invaluable partnership in the preparation of this book. WHO

also appreciates the commitment of the many organizations—United Nations

agencies, members of the Implementing Best Practices Consortium, and many

others—that are adopting this handbook and disseminating it to health care

providers throughout the world with the financial support of a wide range of

government agencies and other development partners. These concerted efforts

attest that the job of improving the world’s health lies in good hands.

Paul F.A. Van Look, MD PhD FRCOG

Former Director, Department of Reproductive Health and Research

World Health Organization

Forewords v

From the United States Agency for International Development

The practical, up-to-date guidance in this new handbook will help to improve

the quality of family planning services and maximize people’s access to them.

It can help family planning providers to assist clients choosing a family planning

method, to support effective use, and to solve clients’ problems. Managers and

trainers can use this book, too.

While this handbook covers many topics, 4 overall themes emerge:

1. Almost everyone can safely use almost any method, and providing most

methods is usually not complicated. Thus, methods can be made widely

available and offered even where health care resources are quite limited.

This book defines and explains the many opportunities for people to

choose, start, and change family planning methods appropriately.

2. Family planning methods can be effective when properly provided. For

greatest effectiveness some methods, such as pills and condoms, require

the user’s conscientious action. The provider’s help and support often can

make the difference, such as discussing common possible side effects. Some

methods require the provider to perform a procedure correctly, such as

sterilization or IUD insertion. Short of giving instructions on performing

procedures, this handbook offers the guidance and information that

providers need to support effective and continuing contraceptive use.

3. New clients usually come for services with a method already in mind, and

this is usually the best choice for them. Within the broad range of methods

that a client can use safely, the client’s purposes and preferences should

govern family planning decisions. To find and use the most suitable method,

a client needs good information and, often, help thinking through choices.

This book provides information that client and provider may want to

consider together.

4. Many continuing clients need little support, and for them convenient access

is key. For ongoing clients who encounter problems or concerns, help

and support are vital. This handbook provides counseling and treatment

recommendations for these clients.

With the collaboration of the World Health Organization and many organizations,

many experts worked together to create this book. The United States Agency

for International Development is proud to support the work of many of the

contributors’ organizations and the publication of this book, as well as to have

participated in developing its content. Together with the providers of family

planning who use this book, we all endeavor to make the world a better place.

James D. Shelton, MD

Science Advisor, Bureau for Global Health

United States Agency for International Development

vi Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers

Vera Zlidar, Ushma Upadhyay, and Robert Lande of the INFO Project,

Center for Communication Programs at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School

of Public Health were the principal technical writers and led the handbook

development process, together with Ward Rinehart from the INFO

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