Return on investment for essential obstetric care training in Ghana: do trained public sector midwives deliver postabortion care?

Introduction: In Ghana, the provision of postabortion care (PAC) by trained midwives is critical to the efficient and cost-effective reduction of unsafe abortion morbidity and mortality.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of provider data from a representative sample of Ghanaian health facilities in order to consider the determinants of PAC provision among both physicians and midwives.

Results: In the previous 5 years, more than 58% of providers had participated in at least one type of essential obstetric training.

Pharmacy worker practices related to use of misoprostol for abortion in one Mexican state.

Background: Pharmacies are important sites for access to health information and medications in Mexico. Most workers are not trained in health issues and may provide inaccurate information to consumers. Misoprostol is used by women throughout Mexico for early abortion and often is purchased from pharmacies.

An assessment of postabortion care in three regions in Ethiopia, 2000 to 2004.

Objective: To assess postabortion care services in 3 regions in Ethiopia following provider training and service improvements between 2000 and 2004.

Methods: Data on availability and quality of services were collected at 119 facilities in 3 regions of Ethiopia before and after postabortion care (PAC) provider training in 42 of the sites; supervision, supplies, and equipment were also provided. Changes over time, changes attributable to the training intervention, and overall self-reported improvements in PAC were assessed for outcomes of interest, including availability of uterine evacuation services, postabortion contraceptive methods and supply availability (including manual vacuum aspiration [MVA]), and minimum-skilled providers.

Gynecologic and contraceptive services provided by certified nurse-midwives in North Carolina.

Gynecologic care by midwives has been little represented in the peer-reviewed literature despite the fact that the majority of midwives provide these services. Offering patients a variety of contraceptive options is important for informed choice and consent and for reducing the unintended pregnancy rate, which is nearly 50% in the United States. This study describes the volume of gynecologic care and the contraceptive methods provided by certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) in North Carolina.

Moving beyond disclosure: women's perspectives on barriers and motivators to seeking assistance for intimate partner violence.

To investigate women's perceptions of motivators and barriers to seeking help or accessing intimate partner violence (IPV), services six focus groups were conducted in rural and urban settings in North Carolina between June and August of 2002. Coding and theme analysis were used to summarize themes among the 67 focus group participants. The majority of participants were African-American (87%).

Women's perspectives on intimate partner violence services: the hope in Pandora's box.

Objective: To explore women's perspectives about how to enhance services for those who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and how to improve the links between such services and the health care setting.

Methods: We conducted 6 focus groups involving 67 women in both rural and urban settings in North Carolina. A standardized interview guide was used to investigate the women's perspectives on the study objectives.

Early abortion services in the United States: a provider survey.

The objective of this study was to describe the availability of early surgical and medical abortion among members of the National Abortion Federation (NAF) and to identify factors affecting the integration of early abortion services into current services. Telephone interviews were conducted with staff at 113 Planned Parenthood affiliates and independent abortion providers between February and April 2000, prior to FDA approval of mifepristone. Early abortion services were available at 59% of sites, and establishing services was less difficult than or about what was anticipated.

Physically abused pregnant women's perceptions about the quality of their relationships with their male partners.

Objectives: Most studies of pregnant victims of intimate partner violence have focused on the violent behaviors, without examining other potentially important dimensions of the relationships. This research studies pregnant abuse victims to examine the frequency of violent behaviors occurring during pregnancy, how women characterize the quality of their relationships, and the association between violence frequency and women's perceptions concerning the overall quality of their relationships.

Methods: Eighty-one women who were physically abused by intimate partners during pregnancy were interviewed.