Title: Directive counseling should emphasize disease protection, not pregnancy prevention [letter]

POPLINE Document Number: 129087

Author(s):

Pearson CA

Source citation:

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 1997 Nov;87(11):1868.

Abstract:

The authors disagree with Moskowitz and Jennings that directive counseling upon long-acting contraception can be appropriate and that family planners should develop protocols to that effect. Directive counseling for long-acting contraception is a mistake since almost every woman described as a candidate for directive counseling is also at risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Such counseling should be considered, but for condoms and other barrier methods rather than for long-acting contraception. While it is important to prevent unwanted pregnancy, women whose birth control fails can still take action to prevent birth. However, women who do not use barrier methods and contract herpes, condyloma, and/or HIV have no second chance to prevent infection. Current value-neutral counseling which encourages women to choose a contraceptive method first and then use condoms to prevent STDs is not working well enough, with far too many women at risk of STDs using nothing to prevent disease. Instead of encouraging at-risk women to use long-acting methods, women need to be encouraged to use the most protective method possible.

Keywords:

Critique
Counseling
Pregnancy
Barrier Methods
Needs
HIV Prevention
AIDS Prevention
Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention
Clinic Activities
Program Activities
Programs
Organization and Administration
Reproduction
Contraceptive Methods
Contraception
Family Planning
Economic Factors
HIV Infections
Viral Diseases
Diseases
AIDS
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Reproductive Tract Infections
Infections