Although too many girls and women continue to die and face the short- and long-term consequences of unsafe abortion, potentially life-saving information about receiving quality care for abortion-related complications, is still lacking.
To address this gap, the UN system for human reproductive research, HRP, World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, published new data on this issue, in the latest edition of the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
Strengthen research
WHO and HRP multinational survey on abortion (MCS-A) gather evidence on the delivery, experience and quality of care, based on a study conducted in 17 countries in Africans, Latin America and the Caribbean.
And in a special supplement, it highlights work covering 11 sub-Saharan African countries.
“This addition shows how far we still have to go in ensuring quality, respectful post-abortion care for all; It also proves how much We can learn when we commit to working together“, speak Özge Tunçalp, Health Officer at WHO and HRP.
“Over 11 countries, knowledge has been gathered and research capacity has been enhanced“.
Raise the standard
To ensure the health and well-being of girls and women facing abortion-related complications, it is important to understand what works in their management and clinical care.
In addition to providing this, newly published articles also explore the experiences of adolescents and women in accessing support in unsafe environments.
“A stronger research community is better able to listen, ask, and answer questions, working together for a future where every woman and girl achieves the highest standards of sexual and reproductive health and rights,” said Dr. Tunçalp.
Protect the self-control of the body
Through the WHO and HRP multinational study on abortion, data was collected on 23,000 women who visited health facilities with complications related to abortion.
While most complications are mild or moderate associated with abortion, there are many who experience serious or even life-threatening difficulties, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
A holistic approach to abortion and post-abortion care that includes clinical care, self-care, a shared mandate to provide care, and a regulatory framework that supports the health system.
All of these are critical to providing high-quality care, while combining access to a range of affordable and acceptable birth control options – the key to protection. human rights to health and bodily autonomy.
The documents in the supplement show that countries need to move quickly to ensure that health care providers and systems can improve the quality of care for girls and women.
Sub-Saharan Africa
An editorial is part of the study, highlighting key actions decision-makers in sub-Saharan Africa can take to make a difference, such as increasing accessibility. access to high-quality abortion services at all levels of health care.
Other steps include improving the quality of care after an evidence-based abortion, in which health care providers use recommended methods; audit the availability of equipment and supplies; and perform a clinical examination to better understand why health complications arise.
It is also recommended to identify and use interventions that extend beyond the health system, such as addressing harmful beliefs held by health care providers; recognize and address health system limitations; and ensure that girls and women are empowered.
‘Important step forward’
“While we still face many challenges and obstacles in ensuring access to high-quality abortion and post-abortion care for all women, we believe that Forces such as MCS-A in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean play an important role. Seni Kouanda and Zahida Qureshi, the authors of the supplement, said Editor.
They also share the hope that the work presented in the supplement “will help inspire innovations and insights to help realize women’s reproductive rights”.
