In Ecuador, the vast majority of incomplete abortions continue to be treated with Dilatation and Curettage (D&C). This treatment option not only places women at a higher risk of complications, it also places an economic burden on health institutions already hit hard by the country's economic crisis.
To address this issue, a group of interested organizations designed and implemented a postabortion care (PAC) initiative seeking to intoduce Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) as a less invasive and cost-savings treatment option for imcomplete abortions. The initiative also included family planning (FP) counseling and services. The participating organizations included: 1) the public sector (Provincial Department of Health and Vicente Corral Moscoso Hospital), responsible for establishing health policies and medical norms and procedures; 2) academic institutions such as schools of medicine and nursing, responsible for the training and education of medical service providers; and, 3) the JHPIEGO Corporation, working to improve the health of women and families around the world, responsible for providing technical assistance.
This paper will share the experience of implementing the PAC initiative in Ecuador and lessons learned which may guide similar initiatives in similar settings.
Learning Objectives: To share the experience of implementing a Postabortion Care (PAC) initiative in Ecuador and lessons learned which may guide similar initiatives in similar settings
Keywords: 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.