Video vs. conversational contraceptive counseling during maternity hospitalization: A randomized trial
Contraception
Awarded 2016
Trainee Grants
Alyssa Hersh, BA, BS
Oregon Health & Science University
$7,500

Objective: To compare two methods of delivering contraceptive counseling to pregnant women upon hospital admission for delivery in Colombia. Methods: This study is a multi-center randomized, controlled trial nested in a prospective cohort study which is studying long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) uptake after contraceptive counseling and immediate provision. Women admitted to either of two urban, public hospitals in Colombia in early labor or for a planned cesarean are recruited for this study. We plan to enroll 120 subjects at each site. Subjects are randomly assigned to one of two groups for contraceptive counseling; one group receives counseling through a structured, in-person conversation with a trained counselor and the other receives counseling through watching a video that provides the same information. Subjects in both groups can discuss questions with a dedicated counselor. We assess time to complete counseling and subject satisfaction. Subjects complete a questionnaire to assess demographics and baseline knowledge as well as intended method of contraception prior to the counseling intervention. A post-counseling questionnaire assesses knowledge and intended contraception. Implications: It can be costly to train and maintain a contraceptive counselor in health care facilities, especially in rural and low-income settings. This study seeks to determine if a video recording can substitute for a counselor and still attain the same level of family planning knowledge.