The Health System Costs of Post Abortion Care in Tanzania

Naomi Lince-Deroche, Guttmacher Institute
George Ruhago, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Philicia Castillo, Guttmacher Institute
Patrice Williams, Guttmacher Institute
Projestine Muganyizi, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Akinrinola Bankole, Guttmacher Institute

Unsafe abortion is common in Tanzania. We estimated the health system costs of providing postabortion care (PAC) to manage complications from unsafe abortion—at current service provision levels and assuming all need for PAC was met. We established a nationally representative sample of 40 public and private health facilities, and conducted a bottom-up costing from the health provider perspective in 2018/2019. We assessed direct, indirect and total costs. In 2018, 3,832 women received PAC services in the study facilities. Most were treated for incomplete abortion. Analysis is ongoing. We will present: average and total PAC costs by complication type, facility level and ownership category, within the sample and nationally. We will also present fees paid by women. The costs of managing complications from unsafe abortion are substantial and largely avoidable. Policymakers should consider potential costs savings from policy shifts that reduce unsafe abortion, including increasing access to contraception.