Reproductive health providers' willingness to provide comprehensive abortion services and knowledge of the abortion law in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, the maternal mortality ratio is 676/100,000 live births with complications from unsafe abortion being the leading cause. The current study was conducted to assess the knowledge of reproductive health practitioners of the law governing abortion in Ethiopia, the willingness of providers to perform abortion procedures, and current comprehensive abortion care (CAC) practice patterns of physicians, midwives, and nurses at one teaching hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. All currently practicing obstetric/gynecologist faculty and residents, midwives, and nurses working on the obstetrics and gynecology ward at one public teaching hospital in Addis Ababa were invited to participate in this cross-sectional survey. A total of 50 participants completed the survey. 68% of the sample, reported being willing to provide abortion services, if offered the appropriate training. Participants who believe unsafe abortion is a large contributor to poor health of Ethiopian women are almost seven times more likely to be willing to provide CAC services, and physicians are more likely than non-physicians to report being comfortable currently providing CAC services. Obstetric and gynecological providers at St. Paul’s are supportive of providing abortion services, if they are trained in the procedure. Ensuring proper clinical training, as well as sensitization to the recent law change and the burden of unsafe abortion, is of the upmost importance to ensure Ethiopian women have access to safe abortions, as allowed by law.