Decentralising Postabortion Care in Africa: A call to Action

Abstract

Unsafe abortion claims the lives of tens of thousands of women in the world each year, disproportionately affecting women in Africa. Postabortion care, including emergency treatment of incomplete abortion, is a strategy that can reduce the morbidity and mortality related to unsafe abortion, but only if services are readily accessible to women. To meet the needs of women, mid-level health professionals such as midwives should be authorised and trained to provide postabortion care. The multifaceted approach used to decentralise postabortion care services in Ghana can be used as model to improve access to postabortion care in countries throughout Africa. Countries should take immediate action to decentralise postabortion care, addressing issues of policy and standards, clinical protocols, advocacy, research, training, supervision, and community education.

(Afr J Reprod Health 1999; 3 (1): 109 - 114)

Key Words: Gonorrhiea, infertility, serology, Mozambique