Risk of unintended or high –risk pregnancy
Why .to refer for family planning services.
Who .all women and men of reproductive age should ideally be
screened,as the opportunity arises, within maternal and child health programmes
and health services for adults. In areas where such an approach would be
culturally acceptable ,consider opportunistic screening of all adults of
reproductive age receiving medical care for other reasons .
How . screen by enquiry in a confidential setting . jcan be
done by primary care workers with training in how to maintain confidentiality .
the home based maternal record ,which contains a section for information on
intervals between pregnancies, as well as covering several pregnancies, constitutes an excellent means of
reminding health workers to enquire about the need for family planning.
When .as the opportunity arises within maternal and child health programmes and general medical
care.
Resource levels required. Low for detection; intervention
may require resource levels that are low (education regarding family planning,
emphasizing use of barrier methods),medium (prescription of oral contraceptives
or diaphragm, vasectomy),or high ( tubal ligation).
Recommendation on use of screening, opportunistic screening
and early detection of problems are recommended but are likely to play a very
limited role in reducing the risk. The reduction of unintended or high risk
pregnancies will depend primarily on continuous masspublic eduction reaching
men as well as women, and on the availadility of safe, effective and acceptable
family planning services .