Quality of post-abortion care services in the greater Accra region: connecting the perspectives of service providers and experiences of clients.

BACKGROUND

Access to quality abortion services will not only help to reach SDG Target 3.1 and Goal 3 of Agenda 2063 but will also enhance maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa. Post-abortion care was thus introduced as a key component in managing complications from abortion. However, not much is known about the quality of post-abortion care services and practices. The main objective of this study was to examine the connecting experiences of clients and service providers perspectives on the quality of post-abortion care services.

METHODS

An in-depth interview technique was used to collect data from 18 purposively selected post-abortion care clients and 13 post-abortion care service providers from selected health facilities in urban Accra. Data were analysed using NVivo 12 software using a quantitative thematic analysis technique.

RESULTS

We noted that the providers' perspectives and clients' experiences or narratives about PAC quality converged around interpersonal and technical quality. Apart from the consensus on what quality meant and what clients received, there were subtle divergences or variations in quality perspectives. Specifically, while the clients considered quality communication to be concerned with behaviour and mannerisms, service providers perceived it as patient-centred. Also, while clients considered quality treatment to be the immediate outcome of treatment, service providers perceived it as one with no adverse event. We also found that the quality of PAC services at health facilities could be improved by making consumables readily available and the provision of separate treatment rooms.

CONCLUSION

Although PAC services are generally considered high quality in the Greater Accra region, there is still room for improvement. The private health facility owners, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Services could take pragmatic steps to enhance synchronisation of notions of quality PAC services through sensitisation and education based on existing PAC protocol requirements.