Informed Choice

 

Percentage of current users of selected contraceptive methods who were informed about side effects or problems of the method used, what to do if they experienced side effects or problems, and who were informed of other methods of contraception that could be used

 

Definition

 

1)     Percentage of current users of selected contraceptive methods who were informed about side effects or problems of the method used.

2)     Percentage of current users of selected contraceptive methods who were informed of what to do if they experienced side effects or problems with the method used.

3)     Percentage of current users of selected contraceptive methods who were informed of other methods of contraception that could be used.

4)     Percentage of current users of selected contraceptive methods who were informed of all three (Method Information Index).

 

Coverage:

Population base: Women who started the last episode of use of modern contraceptive method

within the 5 years preceding the survey. Only users of female sterilization, pill, IUD, injectables, and implants are included

Time period: 5 years preceding the survey

 

Numerators:

Number of women who say they were informed at the start of the current episode of use of the method about:

1)     Side effects or problems of the method used (v3a02 = 1 or v3a03 = 1)

2)     What to do if they experienced side effects or problems with the method used (v3a04 = 1)

3)     Other methods of contraception that could be used (v3a05=1 or v3a06=1)

4)     All three ((v3a02 = 1 or v3a03 = 1) & (v3a04 = 1) & (v3a05=1 or v3a06=1))

 

Denominator:  Number of women who started the last episode of use of modern contraceptive method (female sterilization, pill, IUD, injectables, and implants) within the 5 years preceding the survey (v312 in 1:3,6,11 & v008 - v317 < 60)

 

Variables: IR file.

v3a02

Told about side effects

v3a03

Told about side effects by health or family planning worker

v3a04

Told how to deal with side effects

v3a05

Told about other family planning methods

v3a06

Told about other family planning methods by health or family planning worker

v3a07

First source for current method

v313

Current use by method type

v317

Current contraceptive method

v005

Woman’s individual sample weight

 

Calculation

 

Numerators divided by the denominators and multiplied by 100 to obtain percentages.

 

Handling of Missing Values

 

Women who did not know whether they were informed are considered not informed. Women with missing values on whether they were informed are excluded from the numerators but included in the denominators.

 

Notes and Considerations

 

Informed choice is a necessary part of family planning programs. Family planning providers should inform all method users of the potential side effects and what they should do if they encounter any of the effects. This information both assists the user in coping with side effects and decreases unnecessary discontinuation of temporary methods. Users of temporary methods should also be informed of the choices they have with respect to other methods. Informed choice should be analyzed by type of method and type of provider in order to improve policy and program practices.

 

Changes over Time

 

In earlier rounds of DHS, an additional indicator was included on whether users were informed that sterilization is permanent.

 

Resources

 

DHS-7 Tabulation plan: Table 7.10

 

API Indicator IDs: FP_ICHC_W_SID, FP_ICHC_W_WDO, FP_ICHC_W_HFP

(API link, STATcompiler link)