Post-Abortion Care for Unsafe Abortion in Africa

A Crucial Element to Reducing Maternal Mortality

Apr 8, 2009

In the Sub-Saharan African region, it is estimated that 50 per cent of maternal deaths are unsafe abortion-related.

Post-Abortion Care (PAC) not only means providing medical services to women suffering from the complications of incomplete and unsafe abortions, but also includes preventing unsafe abortions and unwanted pregnancies from occurring through the provision of information and contraceptives.

Unsafe Abortion Still Rampant in Sub-Saharan Africa

In many countries legal access to safe abortion is denied. Therefore a startling amount of women (or their families) turn to backstreet abortions, which can easily result in disease, infection and even death. In some countries, such as Nigeria, unsafe abortion has been described as a schoolgirl's problem, where 80 per cent of patients admitted to hospitals with unsafe abortion-related complications are adolescent girls. Women who are suffering from the complications of an unsafe abortion require immediate medical intervention. However, a great challenge faced by doctors, midwives and organizations providing PAC is the negative perception of the techniques used to treat women in these circumstances.

Post-Abortion Care Treatment

The treatment of incomplete or unsafe abortions can be provided through several methods: sharp curette, electric vacuum aspiration, manual vacuum aspiration, or where available, misoprostol. The World Health Organization identified the prompt treatment of incomplete abortion as an essential element of obstetric care that should be available at every district level hospital. However, treatment of incomplete abortions can also be provided at the primary care level or in family planning clinics through the use of Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) or through the provision of misoprostol.

MVA is a safe, effective, and low-cost method of providing uterine evacuations for women who are suffering from incomplete and unsafe abortions, or for endometrial biopsies. The procedure can be performed by mid-level staff, does not require anesthesia, and is more comfortable for patients to undergo than the other methods. MVA does not create the amount of bleeding that sharp curette does, and the materials used for MVA procedures are easier to clean and sterilize than those used in other methods, therefore preventing infection.

Lack of Knowledge A Major Barrier to Treatment

Community sensitization in many areas is required in order to educate people on the importance of PAC and the role it can play in saving women's lives. Many clinics that are trained in providing these services also offer sexuality education and contraceptive services, as part of a comprehensive reproductive health program.

By overcoming the misconceptions and lack of understanding of PAC, a greater reduction can be made in maternal mortality by providing emergency obstetric care for pregnancy complications.

The copyright of the article Post-Abortion Care for Unsafe Abortion in Africa in International Health & Science is owned by Gemma Richardson. Permission to republish Post-Abortion Care for Unsafe Abortion in Africa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.