Expanding the use of manual vacuum aspiration for incomplete abortion in selected health institutions in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Preference for manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and its use for the treatment of incomplete abortion were evaluated among 52 healthcare professionals in 7 Yaoundé hospitals in Cameroon. All but one healthcare professional preferred MVA; however, this technique was available at all times in only two hospitals. In some hospitals, MVA use was only available during the day, while in others it was not available at all. Based on these findings, MVA kits were obtained from the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) for training and to supply selected hospitals. The result was a dramatic increase in the use of MVA in all of the hospitals that received the kits. In one hospital, no kits were received; however, the staff had been sensitized to the problem and the equipment belonging to one of the physicians was put into service. The successful experience of this pilot project provides a rationale for expanding MVA use for incomplete abortion to the entire country.
Maternity Department, Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Electronic address: flotumasang@yahoo.com.
Florence
F
Tumasang
Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Robert J I
RJ
Leke
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Valentine
V
Aguh
D000027:Abortion, Incomplete / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002163:Cameroon; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014619:Vacuum Curettage / Q000379:methods*
Cameroon; FIGO initiative; Incomplete abortion; Manual vacuum aspiration; Postabortion care; Prevention; Sharp curettage; Unsafe abortion