Knowledge attitude and practices of healthcare

providers towards Safe abortion provision

Abdirahman Hussein Nor
Course name Seminar
Student NO 22215681
Outlines
• Introduction to safe abortion provision

• Knowledge of health care providers towards safe abortion

provision

• Attitude of health care providers towards safe abortion

provision

• Practice of health care providers towards safe abortion

provision

• Factors influencing knowledge, attitude, and practices of

health care providers towards safe abortion provision
 Introduction to safe abortion
provision
• The availability of safe abortions is vital to
women's health for a number of reasons. For
women to exercise their right to an abortion
and to be healthy, they must have access to
safe and legal abortion services.
 Ideas that emphasize the significance
of access to safe abortion

• Protecting Women's Health; Abortion methods

carried out unsafely can result in major health
issues such as bleeding, wounds, and
infections. The likelihood of severe problems
is greatly decreased by offering safe abortion
services, protecting the health and wellbeing of
women.
Cont….
• Preventing Maternal Mortality; Maternal
mortality rates are greatly impacted by
unsafe abortions. In many parts of the world,
unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal
death, according to the World Health
Organization (WHO).
Cont…...

• Meeting Human Rights Standards:

International organizations such as the
United Nations recognize abortion access as
a human right. It is consistent with human
rights principles such as the right to life,
health, privacy, and equality
Knowledge of health care providers
towards safe abortion provision

• Having a safe abortion is essential for

women's reproductive rights and health. But
many times, a variety of barriers keep
medical professionals from possessing the
knowledge and abilities required to provide
safe abortion services
Cont….
• Revised Clinical Guidelines: knowledge of the most
recent clinical recommendations and best practices
for the treatment of abortion, including pain
management, surgical and medical methods, and
aftercare. For example, practitioners must follow the
World Health Organization's updated guidelines on
safe abortion practices. Kim et al., (2020)
Cont….

• A study found in Uganda that a large number

of medical professionals believed that
abortion was illegal and that they knew
enough about safe abortion practices.
Nabbuye-Sekandi et al., (2011)
Cont….

• On the other hand, an Ethiopian study found

that medical professionals who had received
safe abortion training had a significantly
higher level of comprehension regarding the
ethical and scientific aspects of providing
safe abortion. Tadesse et al., (2015).
Attitude of health care providers
towards safe abortion provision
• A study conducted in Ethiopia found that
some medical professionals stigmatized
women seeking safe abortions because they
believed that doing so was immoral and
against their religious beliefs. Tadesse et al.,
(2015)
Cont…

• The investigation also found that because of

negative attitudes toward abortion, women
were frequently refused care or only given
inadequate care. However, there have been
some promising developments in the last few
years.
Cont…

• A Mexican study found that since abortion

became legal in Mexico City, medical
professionals' perceptions of the availability
of safe abortion services have significantly
improved. (Schiavon & Troncoso, 2020)
Practice of health care providers
towards safe abortion provision
• A study conducted in South Africa found that
some doctors were reluctant to perform
abortions due to a lack of training and
experience. (S. Sully et al., 2019).
Cont….
• Similar results were found in an investigation
carried out in Nigeria, where it was found that
medical personnel were not properly trained
or knowledgeable about performing safe
abortions, which led to the provision of subpar
care to women seeking abortion services.
(Ganatra et al., 2017)
 Factors influencing knowledge, attitude, and
practices of health care providers towards safe
abortion provision
• Legal and Policy Environment:

The legal framework surrounding abortion has a big

influence on the beliefs and methods of medical
professionals. Restrictive laws may make it more
difficult to obtain safe abortions, which may reduce
the willingness of providers to provide these
services. (World Health Organization, 2019).
 Training and Education:
• Healthcare professionals' knowledge and
practices are influenced by receiving proper
training and education on abortion care.
Having access to extensive training programs
aids in developing the abilities and self-
assurance needed to provide safe abortions.
(Raymond et al., 2014).
 Stigma and Societal Attitudes

• Abortion stigmatization can affect the

attitudes and behaviors of medical
professionals. Unfavorable social perceptions
could foster a hostile environment that
hinders the availability of safe abortion
services. (Swartz et al., 2020)
Ethical and Religious Beliefs:

• Healthcare professionals' opinions regarding

abortion may be influenced by their own
personal ethical and religious convictions.
These convictions might affect their
readiness to offer abortion services. (Rice et
al., 2020)