Using data prospectively collected over a year at the largest maternity hospital in Nepal, comparative analysis was conducted between patients treated at the (MVA) unit and those treated in the main operation theater (OTBT) due to unavailability of the MVA unit services. Although the two groups had different background characteristics, they were similar in terms of the clinical eligibility criteria for MVA services. The MVA group received contraceptive counseling and services and had significantly shorter hospital stay. In contrast, very few of the women in the OTBT group had access to contraceptive counseling or services. Follow-up at six-weeks showed that the MVA patients had significantly lower rate of complaints and were generally more satisfied with the services received, compared to the OTBT group. Just over 50% in the MVA group were using contraception at the six-week follow-up. The MVA unit provided relatively safe, effective and efficient services to about 50% of all the patients with postabortion complications admitted to the hospital. The MVA unit could serve an additional 25% of the postabortion cases admitted to the hospital if it remained open 24-hours a day; this can result in greater utilization of resources, increased savings and higher client satisfaction for the hospital and better experience and outcome for the patients served. Both the MVA and the OTBT services should be better integrated with the outdoor antenatal and family-planning clinics to more effectively and efficiently meet the special needs of women admitted to the hospital for postabortion care.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Post-Abortion Care, Access and Services
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.