Preprint / Version 1

Availability and distribution of safe abortion services in rural areas: a facility assessment study in Madhya Pradesh, India

Authors

  • Sarika Chaturvedi Department of Public Health and Environment, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India
  • Sayyed Ali Department of Public Health and Environment, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India
  • Bharat Randive Department of Public Health and Environment, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India
  • Yogesh Sabde Department of Community Medicine, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India
  • Vishal Diwan Department of Public Health and Environment, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India
  • Ayesha Costa Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Keywords:

abortion, maternal health, India, JSY

Abstract

Unsafe abortion contributes to a significant portion of maternal mortality in India. Access to safe abortion care is known to reduce maternal mortality. Availability and distribution of abortion care facilities can influence women's access to these services, especially in rural areas. Objectives To assess the availability and distribution of abortion care at facilities providing childbirth care in three districts of Madhya Pradesh (MP) province of India. Design Three socio demographically heterogeneous districts of MP were selected for this study. Facilities conducting at least 10 deliveries a month were surveyed to assess availability and provision of abortion services using UN signal functions for emergency obstetric care. Geographical Information System was used for visualisation of the distribution of facilities. Results The three districts had 99 facilities that conducted >10 deliveries a month: 74 in public and 25 in private sector. Overall, 48% of facilities reported an ability to provide safe surgical abortion service. Of public centres, 32% reported the ability compared to 100% among private centres while 18% of public centres and 77% of private centres had performed an abortion in the last 3 months. The availability of abortion services was higher at higher facility levels with better equipped and skilled personnel availability, in urban areas and in private sector facilities. Conclusions Findings showed that availability of safe abortion care is limited especially in rural areas. More emphasis on providing safe abortion services, particularly at primary care level, is important to more significantly dent maternal mortality in India. Keywords: abortion, maternal health, India, JSY

Author Biographies

Sarika Chaturvedi, Department of Public Health and Environment, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India

Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Bharat Randive, Department of Public Health and Environment, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India

Department of Clinical Medicine and Public Health, Umea University, Umea, Sweden

Vishal Diwan, Department of Public Health and Environment, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India

International Centre for Health Research, R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India