Although measuring quality and its effect on continued contraceptive use may be difficult, family planning providers still can translate the principles of high-quality care into better services for their clients (14, 20, 182, 216, 233, 239, 249). "The success of family planning programs ultimately hinges on their ability to meet the individual needs of a spectrum of potential clients" (2).

Some aspects of care can be improved at the service delivery level. Judith Bruce and Anrudh Jain suggest using operations research to test different service delivery approaches. Program managers should examine their program's mission statement, the standard of care that the program wants to offer, and whether the program is prepared to offer that standard of care. Research should assess whether clients are receiving the intended level of care and what impact this care has, in both the short run and long run (20). Respectful treatment and adequate privacy during counseling and procedures, for example, may not cost much to provide.

Other aspects of high-quality care require changes at the policy level. For example, involving more women in policy-making at all levels of program planning and management is needed "both for reasons of equity and to ensure the success of policies" (193). Involving women in policy-making also is important to ensuring that programs serve women's interests as well as national interests. "There is little possibility of enhancing women's situations, serving their interests, or reducing fertility voluntarily if the explicit ideology of the program emphasizes the program over individual goals and places obstacles in the path of meeting individual needs," Bruce contends (19).