Developing a continuing-client strategy. How to meet clients changing family planning needs.

Abstract

Family planning programs conventionally have paid primary attention to attracting new clients. Yet each new family planning user is also a potential continuing client. As more and more people use family planning continuing clients outnumber new clients by a widening margin. A family planning program that focuses on clients not only when they first choose a contraceptive method but also throughout their reproductive lives can offer better care than one that focuses on new clients alone. Peoples family planning needs last for a reproductive lifetime and often change as their life stage changes (11). Adopting a life-stage perspective can help programs identify clients continuing family planning needs and thus provide information and services as their needs change. This perspective can form the basis for a continuing-client program strategy. (excerpt)