Health Education at Family Planning Clinics: Strategies for Improving Information About Contraception and Sexually Transmitted Diseases for Low-Income Women

Abstract

Female clients from three family planning clinics were surveyed for their sources of health information and knowledge regarding contraception and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Clinics, doctors, pamphletdbrochures, and nurses frequently were used as sources of contraceptive information. Television was used most frequently for STD information by the group with higher reading skills, whereas clinic and pamphlet/brochures were used most frequently by the group with lower reading skills. Some significant correlations among contraceptive and STD knowledge and the number of sources of health information and perceived amount learned also were found in the study. These findings can be helpful in developing health information and education programs at family planning clinics.