Summary of Major Changes from 2008 and 2011 Updates: Family Planning

This handbook, one of the World Health Organization's Family Planning Cornerstones, provides evidence-based guidance developed through worldwide collaboration. It offers clinic-based health care professionals in developing countries the latest guidance on providing with the full range of contraceptive methods. This book serves as a quick-reference resource for all levels of health care workers. It is the successor to The Essentials of Contraceptive Technology, first published in 1997 by the Center for Communication Programs at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In format and organization it resembles the earlier handbook. At the same time, all of the content of Essentials has been re-examined, new evidence has been gathered, guidance has been revised where needed, and gaps have been filled. This handbook reflects the family planning guidance developed by WHO. Also, this book expands on the coverage of Essentials: It addresses briefly other needs of clients that come up in the course of providing family planning.

Many additional resources, including an online version, translations (planned for 10 languages), wall charts, chapter summaries, checklists, and ordering information are available here.