Study design and setting
NAIROBI
We conducted a parallel-group, prospective, non-randomised, cluster-control trial to evaluate the efficacy of the ARCHES model of contraceptive counselling relative to standard contraceptive counselling. The trial was conducted in six private primary-care clinics operated by a Kenya-based non-governmental organisation, Family Health Options of Kenya (FHOK). All FHOK clinics in the greater Nairobi area were enumerated and assigned in a 1:1 allocation ratio to intervention or control conditions based on FHOK’s assessment of feasibility; pair-matched allocation was attempted but not useable due to inaccurate facility-level data. Providers from intervention clinics offering counselling on contraceptive methods were trained on the integration of ARCHES strategies within standard contraceptive counselling. Control clinics received no additional training and continued to offer standard contraceptive counselling services. The trial included four points of data collection: baseline (immediately prior to receiving service), exit (immediately after receiving service before leaving the clinic), and three-month and six-month follow-up.