Health Systems’ Capacity to Provide Post-Abortion Care (Pac): Assessment of Health Facilities in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Nigeria Using Signal Functions

Kenneth Juma, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Ramatou Ouedraogo, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Michael M. Mutua, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Sylvia Onchaga, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Ali Sié, Centre de Recherche en Santé de Nouna
Nkechi Emma-Echiegu, Ebonyi State University
Martin Bangha, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)

In most of Sub-Saharan Africa’ countries, access to abortion is legally restricted. The women requiring abortion in these restrictive environments resort to unsafe procedures resulting in complications, which often require long hospital stays, treatment and attendance by skilled health providers. Most women with abortion-related complications in these countries end up in public hospitals where minimal evidence exist on their capacity to offer PAC. This paper presents the results of a cross-sectional surveys conducted across a nationally representative sample of primary, secondary and tertiary public health facilities in Burkina Faso, Kenya and Nigeria from November 2018 to February 2019, signal function indicators, including key equipment and supplies, staffing, training, etc. Study findings reveal gaps and weaknesses in delivery of PAC in the selected SSA countries. Findings demonstrate the need for increased investments by governments to strengthen capacity of primary and secondary and tertiary public health facilities to deliver quality PAC services.