Post Abortion Care Services In Three Health Facilities In Volta Region; Ghana

ABSTRACT Background: Post Abortion Care (PAC) is extensively identified as a critical practice to address hitches related to miscarriage and incomplete abortion and reduce repeat abortions. The WHO has established that every service delivery site at every level of the health system should be equipped and have personnel trained to recognize abortion complications and to provide or refer women for prompt care, 24 hours a day. A health facility is said to be providing perfect post abortion care services when that facility is adhering to the five Essential Elements of PAC. These are; partnership between community members and healthcare providers, counseling, treatment of incomplete and unsafe abortions, contraceptive and family planning services and reproductive and other health services. But what have been observed is that, there are some real and consistent problems that interfere with the availability of perfect post abortion care and Volta Region is not an exception. The purpose of this study therefore, seeks to describe the Post Abortion Care Services in three health facilities in the Volta Region. Methods: The study design was descriptive cross-sectional survey. A blend of purposive and simple random sampling technique was employed to select 207 health providers in three hospitals in the Volta Region. Structured questionnaires and a checklist were used to collect data. Data were analysed using STATA Version 14. Descriptive data analysis techniques i.e. frequencies, mean, standard deviation and bivariate logistic regression analyses were used to describe PAC services. Results: Out of the 798 abortion cases recorded threatened abortion accounted for 47.4%, Dilatation and curettage formed 48.6% and 4% were cases of pre and post-menopausal symptoms, viable fetus, referrals and deaths. One tenth of the respondents were trained in PAC and among these 30% who are doctors were practicing. It revealed that out of the facilities studied 83% did not adhere to PAC protocols as against only about 17% who complied. Of the three study areas, Ketu South showed significant difference (p=0.002), as well as Hohoe (p