Views of Health Care Providers on Appropriate Interventions to curb Unsafe Abortion in Ghana

Unsafe abortion is a major direct obstetric cause of maternal mortality in less developed countries. Unsafe abortion accounts for about one in 10 pregnancy related death in Ghana although several policies, programs and... [ view full abstract ]

Unsafe abortion is a major direct obstetric cause of maternal mortality in less developed countries. Unsafe abortion accounts for about one in 10 pregnancy related death in Ghana although several policies, programs and initiatives are being implemented to tackle maternal morbidity and mortality. This paper explores the views of post-abortion health care providers on appropriate interventions to curb unsafe abortion. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 providers of post-abortion care in January 2013. The providers were purposively selected from three health care facilities in the Accra Metropolis. The key interventions proposed by the providers are effective pre- and post-abortion counseling, public education on the abortion law and improved client-provider relationship. Post-abortion care providers could make significant contributions towards the design and implementation of programs to address unsafe abortion.