In partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) and the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), PRIME is conducting a pilot project to determine the feasibility and acceptability of linking emergency contraception (EC) with postabortion care (PAC) services at the primary level. Women who undergo induced abortion are at greater risk of another unwanted pregnancy, and these women need full access to a range of contraceptive options, including EC, from which to make an informed choice on how to prevent another unwanted pregnancy. Primary providers are well-positioned and acceptable to communities as providers of reproductive health services, including family planning and postabortion care.
The pilot consists of a national assessment of the feasibility and acceptability of linking PAC and EC, followed by a small demonstration training activity in the Eastern Region, where primary providers already offer PAC services. It is expected that linking EC with PAC services will increase the method mix available to PAC clients as well as other maternal health and family planning clients, thus decreasing the number of unwanted pregnancies. It is also expected that women not using contraceptive methods, for whatever reason, will become aware they can use EC when needed, and that women misusing their method will use EC as a "back-up" method. Results of the project will be a greater understanding of the acceptability and feasibility of linking EC with PAC in a country where both services are mandated to be delivered at the primary level.
Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will (1) understand the acceptability and feasibility of linking PAC and EC at the primary level in Ghana; and (2) articulate recommendations and lessons learned for policy development and scaling-up the linkages of PAC and EC services to the national level.
Keywords: Family Planning, Reproductive Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.