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A gap still exists between the propositions of the policy and guidelines on the application of the elements of informed choice in family planning services and the reality in practice. This paper presents the findings of the study that was conducted to partially assess and describe the application of the elements of informed choice by the nurses in providing modern contraceptives at the health care facilities in Khomas region of Namibia. A quantitative descriptive study design was employed among the study populations of 7,401 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who use family planning services at the four (4) urban and two (2) rural health care facilities in Khomas region. Systematic random sampling was done for the urban and rural health facilities, while a convenience sampling was employed to select a sample of 184 client participants from the total population using the computer probability of 95% and the confidence limit of 5%. The data were collected through exit interviews of the clients and analysed using EPI Info. The findings indicated a glaring lack of the provision of the information which can constitute the basis for an informed choice by the clients. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others the provision of in-service training in family planning and communication skills for nurses, development and dissemination of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials for the clients and the availability of more family planning methods for the clients.

Background: The fundamental problem which prompted this research study lies in the observation that family planning clients do not receive the required information for decision making on the methods that meet their reproductive needs. Objectives:To determine family planning information provided to the clients by nurses during family planning counselling sessions in the Khomas region to describe the knowledge of the clients on the specific chosen method Methods: A quantitative research design recruited 184 family planning clients and 65 nurses. Closed ended questionnaire was used for data collection.Results: Majority (89%) of nurses indicated that they always explain the advantages of the method selected to the clients, contrary to the majority (77%) of the clients reported advantages never been explained to them. Ninety five percent of the nurses indicated that they always explain to clients how to use the method they had selected, while the majority (72%) of the clients were in disagreement. The majority of the nurses (78%) indicated that they always explain the possible side effects of the method to their clients while, 63% of the clients indicated that the side effects were not explained to them. Only 22% of the injectable contraceptive users indicated changes in menstrual bleeding as a common side effect, while the majority (66 %) indicated that they did not know. Conclusion:According to clients, information provided to them was inadequate. Equally, the majority of clients had not demonstrated sound knowledge about their method of choice.