Quality and efficiency of care for complications of unsafe abortion: a case study from Bangladesh
Johnston, H.B.; Akhter, S.; Oliveras, E.
International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics the Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 118(Suppl 2): S141-S147
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1879-3479 PMID: 22920618 DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7292(12)60013-7Document Number: 565110
Treating complications of unsafe abortion can be financially draining for health systems. This analysis assessed incremental health system costs of service delivery for abortion-related complications in the Bangladesh public health system and confirmed that providing postabortion care with vacuum aspiration is less expensive than using dilation and curettage (D&C). Implementing several evidence-based best practices, such as replacing D&C with vacuum aspiration, reducing use of high-level sedation, authorizing midlevel providers to offer postabortion care, and providing postabortion contraceptive counseling and services to women while still at the health facility, could increase the quality and cost efficiency of postabortion care in Bangladesh.