Family planning interventions in Jordan: A scoping review

Despite all efforts in Jordan to increase the demand and use of family planning services, many challenges have likely influenced fertility and contraceptive use outcomes. Improving accessibility and availability of family planning services and interventions to married women and their spouse is essential to improve pregnancy outcomes.

This study reviewed the gray and peer-reviewed literature published between January 2010 and June 2022 that described family planning interventions implemented in Jordan and highlighted the gaps identified in the literature.

For inclusion, primary studies that included information regarding family planning interventions implemented in Jordan were retained.

PubMed database was searched between 2010 till June 2022, as well as bibliographies of the retrieved literature were screened for the relevant literature.

Information extracted from the interventions included author, publication year, study design and purpose, intervention name, aim of the intervention, population descriptor and sample size of the intervention, and impact of the intervention.

A total of 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The studies described/assessed 10 different interventions including communication interventions, child preparation programs, evidence-based educational program, counseling interventions, pharmacist booklet on effective use of oral contraceptive pills and Village Health Center project. Five family planning interventions targeted women and five targeted health care providers. Three interventions targeted men, two targeted religious leaders, and two targeted community health committees. Many of the interventions suffered from a lack of a robust methodological framework.

This scoping review showed that there is scarce information on the implementation of High Impact Practices in Family Planning in Jordan. The review identified a lack of robust evidence on the impact and effectiveness of family planning interventions on the access to and use of family planning services and methods. There is a need for developing, implementing, and evaluating family planning interventions that elicit a positive environment and encourage the use of family planning services.