Abstract
Patient Education and Counseling. 39(1): 37-47.This study analyzes and compares transcripts of family planning consultations collected from two different family planning associations in Kenya to explore the possible differences in counseling women and men. A comparison of 358 family planning sessions at 25 service delivery sites in urban and rural areas found distinct gender differences. Most men came for information, while women opted to adopt, continue, or change contraceptive methods. Men participated more actively in the sessions during 66% of their turns to speak, compared with 27% for women. Men were offered more detailed information than women, were asked fewer questions, were issued fewer instructions, and were given more support by the providers. Such communication patterns may be seen as a reflection of Kenyan gender roles and men's and women's different reasons for seeking family planning services. The findings indicate that Kenyan providers need to improve the quality of their interactions with women, and that they also need to anticipate men's outspokenness and understand the male agenda for effective counseling.
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