The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43833

Nosa Orobaton, MD, DrPH¹, chilandu mukuka chilaika, MPH, MD², Reuben Kamoto mbewe, MPH, MD², and Anna Chirwa, BSCNrS, RN, RM³. (1) Zambia Integrated Health Program, Zambia Integrated Health Program, Los Angeles Blvd., Long acres, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia, (2) ZIHPSERV, Zambia Integrated Health Programme / John Snow Inc., Box 37230, Los Angeles Blvd., Long Acres, Lusaka, Zambia, (3) ZIHPSERV, Zambia Integrated Health Program/John Snow Inc., Box 37230, Los Angeles Blvd., Long Acres, Lusaka, Zambia

Complicated cases of spontaneous and induced abortions in Zambia are the commonest cause of gynaecological admissions. They are expensive to treat and are responsible for up to 30%(DHS 1996) of maternal mortality. In Zambia, no Family Planning (FP) counselling services or other relevant reproductive health services are provided after abortion treatment, creating missed opportunities for providing comprehensive reproductive health services. Recent data from two of nine provincial hospitals showed an average of 40 abortions being managed each month under general anaesthesia. The problem seems to be more serious among youth aged 10-19yrs. Furthermore in 12 districts that ZIHP (a USAID funded program) 18.5% abortions in 1999 and 25% in 2000 were among youth 10 – 19 years. The Post Abortion Care (PAC) initiative includes: emergency treatment of incomplete abortions such as manual vacuum aspiration (MVA), Post abortion FP counselling and linkage to other reproductive health services. Currently this initiative is only in three central level hospitals and the challenge is to increase to eight facilities by training health care providers in five more provincial sites. There are negative attitudes towards setting up this initiative in private practice institutions. The recent new Nurses and Midwives act that allows nurses to set up private practices may be a solution to increase PAC services in private institutions

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the mechanism and challenges of setting up post abortion care services

Keywords: Abortion, Adolescent Health

Related Web page: none

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.