Welcome to PS Kenya’s e-learning on family planning Counseling for Choice (C4C)!
The C4C course content was originally created by PSI and adapted for PS Kenya in collaboration with the Kenya Ministry of Health.
This e-learning course contains text, images, downloadable resources, and links to further reading. Learning will be evaluated through self-assessment exercises and a pre and post-test questionnaire.
C4C family planning counselling course overview
- Modern contraceptive use is increasing globally, but method related discontinuation while a woman is in need remains high. One of the main reasons for this discontinuation is side effects related to the method used. Counseling is one of the best ways to address side effects and to reassure the client.
- Counseling for Choice or C4C is a short course for healthcare providers that has been shown to improve the providers’ competencies in counselling clients for contraceptive choices.
- In research currently seeking review for publication, a modified matched case-control study that took place in Malawi in 2018 showed that use of C4C was linked to an increase in client satisfaction with her chosen contraceptive method and to therefore limiting the risk of method discontinuation while still in need of contraception.
- Having learned about the course overview, you will now proceed and learn about how the course is organized.
Course structure and organization
- The C4C Family Planning Counselling course is an eLearning WhatsApp training designed for healthcare providers.
- It is organized into 7 modules and starts with an overview and general course objectives. Each module contains an introduction, objectives, content, and self-assessment review questions.
- Upon completion of the course, all learners are expected to undertake a summative multiple choice post-test questionnaire. The pass mark to obtain a certificate and receive 10 CPD points is 75%.
- Self-directed learning is embraced, and learners proceed to the next module at their own pace. There is an option for repeating any module or the whole course for more comprehensive understanding.
Let’s now look at the course objectives which summarize the skills you will be expected to demonstrate upon completion.
Course objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to;
1. Describe the terms: counselling for choice (C4C) and contraceptive discontinuation
2. Outline the common reasons for discontinuation of contraceptive methods
3. Explain the rationale behind counselling for choice (C4C)
4. Differentiate between contraceptive method benefits and features
5. Explain the effect of describing contraceptive methods to clients according to their benefits rather than their features
6. Outline effective communication with emphasis to prevention of information overload
7. Describe ways of assisting clients in making an informed choice
8. Describe the NORMAL tool as it applies to Counseling for Choice (C4C)
9. Explain how to use the C4C Choice Book
10. Demonstrate appropriate FP counselling skills using the NORMAL tool and the C4C Choice Book
Having gone through the objectives, let’s now review the course outline.
Course outline
Module 1: Introduction to C4C
Module 2: Contraceptive features and benefits
Module 3: C4C N.O.R.M.A.L. tool
Module 4: Information overload in C4C communication
Module 5: Basics of effective communication in C4C
Module 6: Contraceptive method comparison for informed choice
Module 7: The C4C choice book
Now that you’ve been introduced to the C4C course, it is important that you understand the navigation menu. Please note that 'Activities' refer to modules, tests/quizzes, and exercises. 'Previous' allows you to go back to the most recent activity and 'Next' moves you to the next activity in the course.
The next activity at this point in the course is the pre-test. You must take the pre-test to gauge your baseline knowledge before you proceed to the modules. The pre-test has a total of 15 questions selected from the course content. Each question has only one correct answer. You will earn 1 mark for each question answered correctly.
