Women's Health Commons^™

Increasing Client Participation In Family Planning Consultations: "Smart Patient" Coaching In Indonesia, Young Mi Ki, Fitri Putjuk, Endang Basuki, Adrienne Kols

Reproductive Health

In Indonesia, paternalistic models of health care, social distance between clients and service providers, and cultural norms discourage family planning clients from playing an active role in consultations. This report discusses the interventions needed to encourage clients to communicate more openly and more vigorously with providers. The study confirmed that educational interventions directed to family planning clients can help them become effective partners in their own care, assuming they meet with receptive providers. Communication interventions like Smart Patient complement and reinforce provider interpersonal communication and counseling training by giving clients the confidence and the skills to take advantage of increased …