Group versus individual family planning counseling in Ghana: a randomized, noninferiority trial

Abstract

BackgroundGroup, rather than individual, family planning counseling has the potential to increase family planning knowledge and use through more efficient use of limited human resources. Study DesignA randomized, noninferiority study design was utilized to identify whether group family planning counseling is as effective as individual family planning counseling in Ghana. Female gynecology patients were enrolled from two teaching hospitals in Ghana in June and July 2008. Patients were randomized to receive either group or individual family planning counseling. The primary outcome in this study was change in modern contraceptive method knowledge. Changes in family planning use intention before and after the intervention and intended method type were also explored. ResultsComparisons between the two study arms suggest that randomization was successful. The difference in change in modern contraceptive methods known from baseline to follow-up between the two study arms (group–individual), adjusted for study site, was −0.21, (95% confidence interval: −0.53 to 0.12) suggesting no difference between the two arms. ConclusionsGroup family planning counseling was as effective as individual family planning counseling in increasing modern contraceptive knowledge among female gynecology patients in Ghana.