Background: Unsafe abortion remains a significant contributor of maternal morbidity and mortality in Ethiopia and other developing countries. Involvement of community based health workers, health extension workers (HEWs) in Ethiopia, is a vital step in increasing access and utilization of medical abortion and related services. In order to engage HEWs, it is important to understand the attitude of women and service providers.

Objective: To explore the acceptability of involvement of HEWs in medical abortion by women who seek services, by abortion service providers, and assess willingness and confidence of HEWs.

Methods: An exploratory in-depth interview was conducted at three purposively selected health facilities in Ethiopia; namely Marie Stopes International (MSI) Adama clinic, MSI Asella clinic and Adama Government Health Centre from July-August, 2013. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysis was done using Atlas ti software. Themes were abstracted from coded text segments. The findings are presented using quotations, Atlas ti networks and queries.

Results: Thirty eight (26 eligibility, 12 follow up) women participated in the study and 9 HEWs and 7 service providers were interviewed. Almost all of the interviewed women, service providers and HEWs accepted HEWs involvement in medical abortion services. The HEWs expressed readiness and confidence. Concerns related to the involvement of HEWs included confidentiality, privacy, over dependence on abortion rather than preventing unwanted pregnancy, quality and poor referral system.

Conclusions: Expansion of medical abortion services by involving HEWs can contribute to the reduction of abortion related morbidity and mortality. Concerns of the study population should be addressed by training HEWs for medical abortion, creating better awareness and advocacy among women and communities, addressing quality and referral issues with proper planning, implementing and monitoring of activities.

Download full-text PDF

Source

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

medical abortion
24
service providers
16
hews
12
hews medical
12
abortion services
12
abortion
10
acceptability involvement
8
health extension
8
extension workers
8
workers hews
8

Similar Publications

Prenatal diagnosis is a crucial tool in reducing birth defects. Research indicates that whole-exome sequencing (WES) is particularly effective for detecting abnormalities associated with structural ultrasound findings. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of WES in the genetic diagnosis of prenatal ultrasound abnormalities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: transmission can occur during pregnancy if the mother contracts the infection for the first time. Treatment strategies include the use of antimicrobial medications and providing supportive care. Spiramycin is commonly used to treat toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and to hinder the disease's transmission.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Application of narrow-band imaging combined with hysteroscopic 7Fr cold knife in the treatment of missed early miscarriage.

Arch Gynecol Obstet

January 2025

Department of Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China.

Purpose: The application of narrow-band imaging for missed early miscarriage treatment remains unclear. This study determined the application advantages of NBI combined with hysteroscopic 7Fr cold knife embryo removal for treating missed early miscarriage.

Methods: A retrospective selection of 208 patients who were hospitalized for missed early miscarriage at Hubei Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2023 to June 2023 were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Despite the increasing evidence supporting the use of biologics for treating severe asthma, there is a lack of evidence regarding their use in pregnant women. This study aims to evaluate the safety of biologics for pregnant women, utilizing global pharmacovigilance database.

Methods: Reports documented between 1980 and 2023 were extracted from the VigiBase that mentioned pregnancy- or fetus-related reactions with drugs indicated for asthma, including reslizumab, omalizumab, mepolizumab, dupilumab, benralizumab, and other non-biologics.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Endoscopy and Anesthesia Outcomes Associated with Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist use in Patients Undergoing Outpatient Upper Endoscopy.

Gastrointest Endosc

January 2025

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. Electronic address:

Background And Aims: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) can cause delayed gastric emptying, raising concern for retained gastric contents (RGCs) during endoscopy and adverse anesthesia events. We aimed to determine associations between GLP1RA and endoscopy and anesthesia outcomes.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study examined patients prescribed GLP1RA who underwent outpatient endoscopy stratified by exposure at the time of endoscopy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!