Contraceptive Method Mix. Guidelines for Policy and Service delivery

If family planning programmes are to meet the contraceptive needs of the largest possible number of couples, they must provide both an appropriate range of methods - the contraceptive method mix - and good quality counseling to help clients choose the technique that is most appropriate for them at a given time. This publication examines the issue of method mix from the perspective of both the user, whose decision to use a particular method will be based on a variety of personal, health, economic, and cultural factors, and programme personnel, who must take into account factors such as policy, cost, and availability of delivery systems. The guidelines given here contain detailed information on all currently available contraceptive methods, as well as covering client education and counseling, training and supervision of service providers, introduction of new methods, and programme evaluation. They are intended for use and adaptation by family planning programme managers, administrators, and policy-makers, in developing a method mix that meets the needs of clients and responds to the specific conditions of the programme.