Abortion treatment by health professionals in south-eastern Nigeria

  • Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Volume 31, No. 6, Year 2011

listen audio

Study Justification:
– Assessing the various modes of treatment for abortion and its complications is important for policy formulation in abortion management.
– The study provides data on the common methods of abortion treatment among healthcare practitioners in south-eastern Nigeria.
Highlights:
– The study included 437 healthcare practitioners, with a mix of general practitioners, nurses, specialist doctors, resident doctors, and community health officers.
– Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and sharp curettage were the most common methods of abortion treatment.
– Only 41% of the respondents had been formally trained on the use of MVA.
– Complications during abortion treatment were recorded by 65.2% of the respondents, including incomplete evacuation, haemorrhage, and infection.
– Sharp curettage had a higher number of complications compared to MVA, including incomplete evacuation and haemorrhage.
– Syncope and uterine perforation occurred solely from sharp curettage.
Recommendations:
– Build capacity of health professionals on the use of MVA for safer abortion treatment.
– Ensure universal access to MVA equipment to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality from abortion-related complications.
Key Role Players:
– Ministry of Health: Responsible for policy formulation and implementation.
– Medical Associations: Provide training and support for healthcare professionals.
– Healthcare Facilities: Provide resources and equipment for safe abortion treatment.
– Non-Governmental Organizations: Support advocacy efforts and provide funding for capacity building.
Cost Items for Planning Recommendations:
– Training Programs: Budget for organizing training sessions on the use of MVA.
– Equipment Procurement: Allocate funds for purchasing MVA equipment for healthcare facilities.
– Infrastructure Improvement: Consider budgeting for facility upgrades to support safe abortion treatment.
– Awareness Campaigns: Allocate funds for public education and awareness on safe abortion practices.

The strength of evidence for this abstract is 7 out of 10.
The evidence in the abstract is moderately strong. The study provides descriptive data on the common methods of abortion treatment and associated complications among healthcare practitioners in south-eastern Nigeria. The sample size is relatively large, with a mix of healthcare professionals. However, the study design is cross-sectional, which limits the ability to establish causality or determine long-term outcomes. To improve the strength of the evidence, future research could consider using a longitudinal design to assess the effectiveness of different abortion treatment methods and their impact on maternal morbidity and mortality. Additionally, conducting randomized controlled trials or systematic reviews could provide more robust evidence on the safety and efficacy of different treatment options.

Studies assessing the various modes of treatment for abortion and its associated complications remain relevant in the generation of data that will aid policy formulation for abortion management. This descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the common methods of, together with the complications associated with, abortion treatment among healthcare practitioners in south-eastern Nigeria. There were 230 males and 207 females, with a mean age of 38.23 + 10.4 years. General practitioners accounted for 214 (49.0%) respondents; nurses, 161 (36.8%); specialist doctors, 56 (12.8%); resident doctors, 5 (1.1%); and community health officers, 1 (0.02%). As high as 388 (88.8%) of the respondents had treated abortion. Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA), and sharp curettage were the commonest methods of treatment accounting for 36.0% and 34.1%, respectively, while medication treatment was employed by 15.0% of the respondents. Only 41.0% of the respondents had been formally trained on the use of MVA. Some 285 (65.2%) of the respondents recorded complications during abortion treatment and these included incomplete evacuation, 30.2%; haemorrhage, 26.0%; and infection, 22.2%. A significantly higher number of complications occurred following sharp metal curretage compared to MVA, and includes incomplete evacuation, 54 (62.5%) vs 33 (38.0%) (p < 0.05); and haemorrhage, 32 (43.2%) vs 15 (20.5%) (p < 0.05). Syncope, 2 (100%) and uterine perforation, 23 (100%) occurred solely from sharp metal curettage. Building capacity of health professionals on the use of MVA, and ensuring the universal access to the equipment will enable safer abortion treatment and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality from abortion-related complications. © 2011 Informa UK, Ltd.

N/A

The recommendation based on the study is to focus on building the capacity of health professionals on the use of Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) for abortion treatment. This involves providing formal training on MVA and ensuring universal access to the equipment. By equipping healthcare practitioners with the necessary skills and resources, safer abortion treatment can be achieved, leading to a reduction in maternal morbidity and mortality from abortion-related complications.
AI Innovations Description
The recommendation to improve access to maternal health based on the study mentioned is to focus on building the capacity of health professionals on the use of Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) for abortion treatment. The study found that MVA was one of the common methods of treatment for abortion, but only 41% of the respondents had been formally trained on its use. By providing formal training on MVA and ensuring universal access to the equipment, safer abortion treatment can be achieved, leading to a reduction in maternal morbidity and mortality from abortion-related complications. This recommendation emphasizes the importance of equipping healthcare practitioners with the necessary skills and resources to provide effective and safe maternal healthcare services.
AI Innovations Methodology
To simulate the impact of the main recommendations mentioned in the abstract on improving access to maternal health, the following methodology can be used:

1. Study Design: Conduct a pre- and post-intervention study design to assess the impact of the recommendations. This design will allow for a comparison of the situation before and after the implementation of the interventions.

2. Study Population: Select a representative sample of healthcare professionals involved in providing maternal health services in south-eastern Nigeria. This can include general practitioners, nurses, specialist doctors, resident doctors, and community health officers.

3. Data Collection: Develop a structured questionnaire to collect data on the following variables:
– Demographic information of the healthcare professionals
– Methods of abortion treatment currently employed by the respondents
– Training received on the use of Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)
– Access to MVA equipment
– Complications experienced during abortion treatment

4. Intervention: Implement the main recommendations mentioned in the abstract, which include:
– Providing formal training on the use of MVA to healthcare professionals
– Ensuring universal access to MVA equipment

5. Data Analysis: Analyze the collected data using appropriate statistical methods. Compare the pre- and post-intervention data to assess the impact of the recommendations on improving access to maternal health. Key variables to analyze include:
– Proportion of healthcare professionals trained on MVA before and after the intervention
– Proportion of healthcare professionals using MVA as a method of abortion treatment before and after the intervention
– Proportion of complications experienced during abortion treatment before and after the intervention

6. Interpretation of Results: Evaluate the findings to determine the impact of the recommendations on improving access to maternal health. Assess whether there is an increase in the proportion of healthcare professionals trained on MVA, an increase in the use of MVA as a method of abortion treatment, and a decrease in complications experienced during abortion treatment.

7. Recommendations: Based on the results, provide recommendations for further improvements in access to maternal health. This may include scaling up the training on MVA, ensuring continued access to MVA equipment, and addressing any remaining barriers to safe abortion treatment.

By following this methodology, researchers can assess the effectiveness of the recommendations mentioned in the abstract and provide evidence-based insights to inform policy formulation and improve access to maternal health services.

Statistics:
Citations: 4
Authors: 4
Identifiers:
DOI: 10.3109/01443615.2011.580394
ISSN: 01443615
Research Areas:
Community Interventions, Health System and Policy, Maternal and Child Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Workforce
Study Countries:
Nigeria
Study Design:
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach:
Quantitative
Participants Gender:
Female
Share this:
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Email