Attitude of women with abortion-related complications toward provision of safe abortion services in Ghana.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the attitude and perception of women with abortion-related complications toward the provision of safe abortion services, their sociodemographic characteristics, and their awareness of the law permitting abortion under certain circumstances in Ghana.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study using a standardized questionnaire was conducted over a 2-month period among patients admitted with abortion-related complications at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana.


RESULTS
Abortion-related complications accounted for 42.7% of admissions to the gynecological ward. The median age of the women was 26 years. Of the 296 patients interviewed, 28% reported induced abortion in the index pregnancy, 29% were not married, 30% had no formal education, and 92% were not aware of the current legal status of abortion in Ghana. They thought there was the need to provide safe abortion services in the country, and almost all of them were willing to patronize such services.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of the current legal status of abortion was lacking among women with abortion-related complications attending a tertiary center in Kumasi. However, the provision of safe abortion services was much needed in this population.
Konney
Thomas O
TO
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana. tom.konney@yahoo.com
Danso
Kwabena A
KA
Odoi
Alexander T
AT
Opare-Addo
Henry S
HS
Morhe
Emmanuel S K
ES
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology; D017751:Safety Management; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult