WHO releases new family planning and abortion care competency standards for health workers

Family planning and comprehensive abortion care are part of primary health care, and availability of these services is critical for achieving universal health coverage. Yet, many people around the world lack access to these services, and even when they are available, they are not always accessible, effective and respectful.

Competent health workers play a crucial role in bridging this gap. However, in many countries, health care providers lack the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to provide evidence-based as well as person-centred services in these critical areas.

This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the Family planning and comprehensive abortion care toolkit for the primary health care workforce, which outlines key competencies for health workers, as well as guidance on how to develop programmes and curricula for their education and training.

It has been released following updates to WHO’s landmark family planning handbook and recommendations on abortion care. The Toolkit is one of several resources planned to help countries implement these important guidelines for women’s health.

Health workers need the right skills – but also the right knowledge and attitudes

Health care providers need to know practically how to perform specific clinical interventions, such as how to insert and remove contraceptive implants, or how to provide a medical abortion. But they also need strong communications, decision-making and partnership skills, so that they are equipped to actively listen to patients and convey information effectively, while always placing the individual at the centre of their practice.

How health workers behave and perform their tasks – and thus, how people perceive the care that they receive – is influenced by health workers’ feelings, values and beliefs. Effective, non-judgemental and person-centred care requires that health workers treat people with full respect for human rights, as well as for the choices of the individuals seeking care.

The new toolkit lists these attitudes, along with other values, that all health workers providing family planning and abortion services should strive towards.

A resource to support education, performance and policymaking

The toolkit is intended to be used by anyone whose work includes some aspect of family planning and abortion care, including policymakers, government officials, institutional leaders, programme and curriculum managers and educators.

Policymakers can refer to these competencies to regulate service providers, to ensure that the care provided in their a country meets internationally recognised standards.

Team leaders at healthcare facilities can use the competencies to define what tasks a health worker in a particular role needs to be able to perform, to develop job descriptions, to recruit staff, and to conduct performance reviews.

For those involved in education, this toolkit can have a central role in training current and future health workers, with the different competencies used as learning objectives that help teachers and students assess learning progress and identify knowledge gaps.  There is also a dedicated section within the toolkit that outlines how these competencies can be included in pre-service training, post-graduate studies and continuing professional development.

In 2023, WHO plans to publish a third component of the toolkit, supporting its implementation and dissemination, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

Setting a global benchmark for quality care for everyone, everywhere

The Family planning and comprehensive abortion care toolkit for the primary health care workforce was developed collaboratively by the United Nations’ Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP) and WHO’s Health Workforce Department.

By articulating critical competencies, this toolkit sets a global benchmark that encourages and supports health workers and decision-makers around the world to strive towards the same high standards of care. The competencies also provide a shared language about attitudes, knowledge and skills needed in family planning and abortion service delivery.

This makes it easier for people to collaborate across organizations and countries, in order to reach the common goal of ensuring the highest possible level of sexual and reproductive health, for everyone, regardless of who they are and where they live.