Magnitude of abortion-related complications in Ethiopian health facilities: A national assessment

Objective: To describe the occurrence of abortion-related complications, av ailable treatment and referral arrangements at various levels of the Ethiop ian health system, including those in remote areas. Design: A cross sectional descriptive study. Setting: The study was carried out in all but two of the regions in Ethiopi a, Subjects and participants: From the respective regions, health facilities w ere randomly selected. Health workers and traditional birth attendants were interviewed and operations registers were reviewed. Results: In hospitals, the interviewees estimated that an average of 17 pat ients with postabortion complications were seen per month, in lower level h ealth facilities providing post-abortion care the estimate was one patient per month. In lower level units not providing post-abortion care, 84% of th e interviewees responded that they saw patients with complications due to a bortion. The study shows that abortion complications occur in both urban an d rural areas and are seen not only in hospitals, but also in health centre s and at health stations, many of which are ill equipped to handle the pati ents, Conclusion: The results indicate a need to address services to improve trea tment of abortion complications acid other reproductive health services, as well as the provision of education to prevent unsafe abortions with both c ommunities and lower level health facilities that serve them.