The Role of Nurse-Midwives in Counseling and Supporting the Selection of Appropriate Contraceptive Methods for Women of Reproductive Age
Keywords:
Nurse-midwives, Contraception, Counseling, Informed decision-making, Reproductive healthAbstract
Thailand is currently facing notable challenges in reproductive health, largely driven by a decline in the overall fertility rate. At the same time, unintended pregnancies remain a concern among certain groups of women of reproductive age. These issues are associated with inappropriate contraceptive use, limited access to high-quality contraceptive information, and the influence of social, cultural, and economic factors. Therefore, the selection of appropriate contraceptive methods is essential for promoting sexual and reproductive health among service recipients. As frontline healthcare providers, nurses play a crucial role in supporting women of reproductive age and other reproductive health service users to make informed and voluntary decisions about contraceptive use in ways that are appropriate to their individual health conditions and life circumstances. This article aims to synthesize academic evidence and present a conceptual framework regarding the role of nurses in supporting the selection of appropriate contraceptive methods according to the context of service recipients. The review draws upon international guidelines and academic sources, including those from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), as well as relevant research published between 2018 and 2024. These sources were analyzed to identify the roles of nurses and the factors influencing contraceptive decision-making. The synthesis revealed five key roles of nurses in supporting contraceptive method selection: (1) Health assessment and related factors; (2) Counseling and Health Education; (3) Support for shared decision-making and psychosocial aspects; (4) Promotion of Contraceptive Service Accessibility; and (5) Follow-up and evaluation. These roles enable clients to make appropriate contraceptive choices that are consistent with their health conditions, lifestyles, sociocultural contexts, and reproductive goals. The proposed conceptual framework can be utilized to guide nursing practice and improve reproductive health service delivery, ultimately promoting population health and supporting sustainable societal development.
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