Increasing access to intrauterine contraceptive device uptake in Ghana: stakeholders views on task sharing service delivery with community health nurses.

Introduction: Evidence supporting successful task sharing to increase Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUD) uptake exist in some developing countries that have challenges with availability of trained health professionals. Although Community Health Nurses (CHNs) in Ghana are trained to provide primary health care including emergency deliveries in rural communities, they are not professionally mandated to provide IUD services.

Objectives: To explore stakeholders' views on task sharing IUD services with CHNs in Ghana.

"My friend who bought it for me, she has had an abortion before." The influence of Ghanaian women's social networks in determining the pathway to induced abortion.

Background: Even given the liberal abortion law in Ghana, abortion complications are a large contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. This study sought to understand why young women seeking an abortion in a legally enabling environment chose to do this outside the formal healthcare system.

Methods: Women being treated for complications arising from a self-induced abortion as well as for elective abortions at three hospitals in Ghana were interviewed.

Comparing Women's Contraceptive Preferences With Their Choices in 5 Urban Family Planning Clinics in Ghana.

Background: Concern about contraceptive side effects is a common reason reported by women for not using contraception or discontinuing use. We sought to characterize women's preferences related to method characteristics and side effects and to examine whether their adopted method was consistent with their stated preferences.

Methods: Between June 1, 2015, and August 31, 2015, we surveyed women attending 5 urban family planning clinics in Kumasi and Accra, Ghana, before and after their counseling sessions.