Three Delays Model applied to prevention of unsafe abortion in Ghana: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjsrh-2020-200903
Author(s):  
Mercy Nana Akua Otsin ◽  
Angela J Taft ◽  
Leesa Hooker ◽  
Kirsten Black
Keyword(s):  
Perinatal Care ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Unsafe Abortion ◽  
Provider Attitudes ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Abortion Complications ◽  
Three Delays

BackgroundUnsafe abortion is an important public health problem in Ghana, making significant contributions to the morbidity and mortality of reproductive-aged women. Although mostly used in explaining mortality associated with perinatal care, recent calls for research on induced abortion in Africa suggest that the Three Delays Model could be used to enhance understanding of women’s experiences and access to induced abortion care.MethodsWe conducted 47 face-to-face interviews with women who had experienced unsafe abortions, with formal abortion providers (abortion providers in hospitals) and with informal and non-legal abortion providers (pharmacy workers and herb sellers). Study participants were recruited from selected hospitals, community pharmacies and markets within the Ashanti region of Ghana. We drew on phenomenology to analyse the data.FindingsThe first delay (in seeking care) occurred because of women’s poor knowledge of pregnancy, the influence of religion, and as a result of women underestimating the seriousness of abortion complications. Factors including cost, provider attitudes, stigma, and the proximity of pharmacies to women’s homes delayed their access to safe abortion and resulted in their experience of the second delay (in reaching a healthcare facility). The third delay (in receiving appropriate care) was a result of hospitals’ non-prioritisation of abortion complications and a shortage of equipment, resulting in long hospital waiting times before treatment.ConclusionThis study has shown the value of the Three Delays Model in illustrating women’s experiences of unsafe abortions and ways of preventing the first, second and third delays in their access to care.

scholarly journals Women's experiences of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Nigeria

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friday Okonofua ◽  
Clifford Odimegwu ◽  
Bisi Aina ◽  
Patrick Daru ◽  
Agnes Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences

scholarly journals Predictors of Unsafe Induced Abortion among Women in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Boah ◽  
Stephen Bordotsiah ◽  
Saadogrmeh Kuurdong
Keyword(s):  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Unsafe Abortion ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Safe Abortion ◽  
Maternal Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancies

Background. Unsafe induced abortion is a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality in Ghana. Objective. This study aimed to explore the predictors of unsafe induced abortion among women in Ghana. Methods. The study used data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey. The association between women’s sociodemographic, obstetric characteristics, and unsafe induced abortion was explored using logistic regression. The analysis involved a weighted sample of 1880 women aged 15-49 years who induced abortion in the period 2012-2017. Analysis was carried out using STATA/IC version 15.0. Statistical significance was set at p <0.05. Results. Of the 1880 women, 64.1% (CI: 60.97-67.05) had an unsafe induced abortion. At the univariate level, older women (35-49 years) (odds ratio=0.50, 95% CI: 0.28-0.89) and married women (odds ratio=0.61, 95% CI:0.44-0.85) were less likely to have an unsafe induced abortion while women who did not pay for abortion service (odds ratio=4.44, 95% CI: 2.24-8.80), who had no correct knowledge of the fertile period (odds ratio =1.47, 95% CI: 1.10-1.95), who did not know the legal status of abortion in Ghana (odds ratio =2.50, 95% CI: 1.68-3.72) and who had no media exposure (odds ratio =1.34, 95% CI: 1.04-1.73) had increased odds for an unsafe induced abortion. At the multivariable level, woman’s age, payment for abortion services, and knowledge of the legal status of abortion in Ghana were predictors of unsafe induced abortion. Conclusion. Induced abortion is a universal practice among women. However, unsafe abortion rate in Ghana is high and remains an issue of public health concern. We recommend that contraceptives and safe abortion services should be made available and easily accessible to women who need these services to reduce unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion rates, respectively, in the context of women’s health. Also, awareness has to be intensified on abortion legislation in Ghana to reduce the stigma associated with abortion care seeking.

scholarly journals Women's experiences of VBAC in Cyprus: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Hadjigeorgiou ◽  
Constantina Katsie ◽  
Maria Papadopoulou ◽  
Maria Dolores Christofi ◽  
Andri Christoforou
Keyword(s):  
Caesarean Section ◽  
Perinatal Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vaginal Birth ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Previous Caesarean Section ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Background and aim In 21st century, there has been an increasing interest in vaginal birth after previous caesarean section (VBAC) in Cyprus, a country with a very high operative birth rate. Research-based evidence of women’s VBAC experiences in Cyprus is non-existent, despite its significance for the well-being of mothers and families. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the women’s lived experience of VBAC in Cyprus. In this study women’s experiences of VBAC are explored for the first time in Cyprus. Method The study is qualitative and exploratory in nature. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 women, who experienced vaginal birth after a previous caesarean section (VBAC) in Cyprus. A descriptive phenomenological approach was employed for the analysis of data. Results Analysis of data yielded four major themes: (a) medicalization of childbirth, (b) preparing for a VBAC, (c) birth environment, and (d) healing through VBAC. On the whole, the women interviewed described their previous experience of CS as traumatic, in contrast to vaginal childbirth. VBAC was considered an utterly positive experience that made the women feel empowered and proud of themselves. Conclusion This study offers valuable insight into a newly researched subject in Cyprus, which is necessary for advancing perinatal care in Cyprus. The findings indicate that women need evidence-based information, guidelines on birthing options, good preparation with tailored information and personalized care for a successful vaginal birth after a previous caesarean section. Proper, non-biased, consultations are a main factor that affects women’s choice of mode of birth. The introduction of new, women-friendly perinatal strategies that respect and promote childbirth rights is imperative in the case of Cyprus. All women have the right to exercise informed choice and the choice to alternative birthing options.

scholarly journals Online reported women’s experiences of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse after vaginal birth

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Mirskaya ◽  
Eva-Carin Lindgren ◽  
Ing-Marie Carlsson
Keyword(s):  
Pelvic Organ Prolapse ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Pelvic Organ ◽  
Vaginal Birth ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Women’S Experiences ◽  
Women's Experiences ◽  
Fertile Women

Abstract Background Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a major public health problem with a relative high lifetime risk of surgery. The main risk factor for developing POP is vaginal birth. Many women become symptomatic later in life and most of the existing research on symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse (sPOP) predominantly concentrates on the effects of the condition on postmenopausal women. However bothersome symptoms of POP can be reported as early as in women’s 20s and may occur shortly after vaginal birth. Limited studies provide an insight into daily life of fertile women with sPOP. Thus, we aimed to explore fertile women’s experiences of symptomatic pelvic organ (sPOP) after vaginal birth. Methods An inductive, text-driven approach was taken by selecting thread posts from an internet forum written by 33 Swedish fertile women who had experienced sPOP after vaginal birth. Results The overarching theme “being irreparably damaged” was identified as representing an experience of being disabled by sPOP after vaginal birth. The fertile women experienced that their lives were ruined because of physical and psychological limitations caused by this unexpected, unfamiliar and unexplained condition. Living with sPOP impinged on sexual health, restricted daily and sports activities and affected the women’s ability to fulfill everyday parental duties. This in turn compromised women’s psychological health. In addition, the negligence of healthcare professionals who tended to trivialize and normalize the symptoms led to the belief that there were no sustainable treatments and that women would have to live with bothersome symptoms of POP for rest of their lives. Conclusions This study found that sPOP had a significant negative impact on fertile women’s lives. The women indicated that they had not had the opportunity to voice their concerns and had not been taken seriously by healthcare professionals. It is of the utmost importance to acknowledge this problem and develop guidelines for prevention and management of sPOP to improve the quality of life for women.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document