KNOWLEDGE,ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS TOWARDS SAFE ABORTION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AT TERTIARY HEALTH FACILITY IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 2021: CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
Abstract
Background: For many Ethiopian women, unsafe abortion is still a reality, and it will remain so until safe abortion is more widely available. However, there is no similar study done so this study was conducted on knowledge, attitude and practice of heath care workers towards safe abortion and its associated factors at Tertiary health facility, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021.
Method: Cross-sectional Study was conducted among obstetrics and gynecology department Health care Workers including midwives, clinical nurses, General Practitioners Obs/gyne Residents, and Consultants between May 2021 and July 2021. Participants were selected using convenient sampling and data were collected using structured pre tested self-administered questionnaire. For data entry, cleaning, and analysis, SPSS version 23 was utilized. The results were presented using frequency tables, percentages, mean, odds ratio and 95% confidence limits.
Result: A total 187 of health care workers participated in the study making the response rate 94.4%. About 73.8%, 52.4%, 49.2% of health care workers had Good knowledge, Positive attitude and Good practice respectively. Level of profession [(Medical doctor (AOR=30; 95% CI=8.6-104.8) ,Midwife (AOR=6; 95% CI=2.1-16.8)], Religion [(Muslim (AOR=0.29; 95% CI= (0.1-0.8) & Year of clinical experience above 3year(AOR=2.9; 95% CI = (1.1-8.3)] and Level of profession [(Medical doctors(AOR=14; 95% CI=2.4-80.1), Midwife(AOR=45; 95% CI=7.9 - 255.1) & Age of respondents above 25 year(AOR=3.5; 95% CI=1.3-9.5)] were significantly associated with Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers towards safe abortion respectively.
Conclusion: The majority claimed to be aware of existing abortion law. Providers' knowledge of abortion was explained in part by their profession. Religious issue and having the experience have impact on how providers felt about safe abortion. The practice of SAC was also influenced by level of profession and age of respondents. Pre/on-service training, for example, is needed to improve the knowledge of Nurses and practice other health care workers about abortion.