Effectiveness of Nurse-led Family Planning Counseling Program: A Systematic Review
Evidence Ngozi Otobo, Oghenereke Odu Ehoro, Sorbarikor Bernard, Ndidi Aleruchi Onwukwe, Patricia Namiesimagha, Obinna Tobechukwu Okonyia
Asian Journal of Medicine and Health · pp. 27–39 · Published 3 Apr 2026
10.9734/ajmah/2026/v24i41375Abstract
Background: Family planning counseling is a key component of reproductive health services that enables individuals and couples to make informed decisions regarding the number, spacing, and timing of their children. Nurses play a critical role in delivering family planning education and counseling due to their accessibility and continuous interaction with patients. However, evidence on the effectiveness of nurse-led counseling programs remains dispersed across different settings and study designs. Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-led family planning counseling programs in improving contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, intention to use contraception, and contraceptive uptake among women of reproductive age. Methods: This review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261346636). A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, supplemented by manual reference screening. Studies were included if they examined nurse-led counseling interventions with measurable family planning outcomes. After screening, ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity. Results: Nurse-led counseling interventions significantly improved contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and intention to use contraception. Several studies also reported increased uptake of modern contraceptive methods. However, knowledge gains did not consistently translate into contraceptive use due to sociocultural barriers, partner influence, misconceptions, and health system limitations. Conclusion: Nurse-led family planning counseling improves reproductive health knowledge and supports informed contraceptive decision-making. Strengthening nurse training, enhancing counseling quality, and integrating counseling into routine services may improve contraceptive uptake. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term effectiveness across diverse settings.
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