title: Awareness and practice of post abortion care services among health care professionals in southeastern Nigeria.
abstract: This study investigates knowledge and practices of post abortion care (PAC) services among health care professionals in the Anambra State of southeastern Nigeria. This was a prospective, cross-sectional, questionnaire based study conducted between 1 June and 30 September, 2006. The study involved a multi-staged sampling of all registered health facilities in Anambra State, with the selection of 60 health facilities from which 450 participants were recruited. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was employed to obtain information from the studied respondents. Obtained data were analyzed using Epi-Info version 2001. A total of 437 questionnaires out of 450 administered were accurately completed, giving a response rate of 97.1%. The respondents were comprised of general practitioners (214, 49.0%), nurses (161, 36.8%), specialist doctors (56, 12.8%), and resident doctors (5, 1.1%). The mean age of the respondents was 38.2 +/- 10.5 years. Most participants (203, 52.6%) were males; the majority (282, 64.5%) were working in the rural areas of the State, including mission hospitals (165, 37.8%) and general hospitals (145, 33.3%). Three hundred thirty respondents (75.5%) were aware of PAC services. Twenty-seven (6.2%) and 28 (6.4%) of respondents were aware of community partnership and family planning services, respectively, as elements of PAC. Although the majority of respondents (302, 69.1%) treated abortion complications, only 155 (35.5%) used a manual vacuum aspirator. Three hundred thirty-eight (88.8%) offered counseling services, and 248 (56.8%) provided referrals to other reproductive health services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 5025, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: J I B
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Adinma
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ikeako
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Adinma
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Ezeama
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ugboaja
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D000359:Aftercare; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies