The Peruvian Ministry of Health with collaboration from Pathfinder International is implementing a training model for post abortion care in 31 public hospitals and health centers in several provinces of the country. The training has a clinical component for physicians and a counseling component for midwives and nurses, and contains two parts: theoretical training and practicum.
The training in the use of Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) has been adapted to the needs of the hospitals (for example, lack of space in the procedure rooms for equipment distribution). One innovative response has been dividing the Mayo table, where all instruments and the aspiration equipment are placed, in two areas: "no touch" and "gloved hand" using the “no touch” technique. The procedure is then completed in two phases:
a) the Metal phase–the physician prepares the instrument table with "metal" instruments (tenaculum, speculum, forceps) and needle/syringe and places them in the "gloved hand" area.
b) the Plastic phase–after the physician administers paracervical block, s/he prepares the "no touch" area with all the needed cannulas and dilators.
This tecnique reduces the possibility of infections and the methodology is easily absorbed by the trainees. In addition, to increase the training’s financial sustainability, uterine models produced by artisans with locally available materials are used.
Integral to the training is the counseling component where providers’ attitudes/feelings toward abortion are addressed and professionals are trained to counsel patients before, during (pain management care), and after the procedure (reproductive health and family planning).
Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to: 1) describe Pathfinder's PAC training model used in Peru, 2) discuss innovative approachs to conducting PAC training in resource-challenged locations, 3) apply lessons learned to future PAC trainings.
Keywords: Training, Post-Abortion Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.