Costs and decision-making regarding abortion and abortion care-seeking in Zambia

Ann M. Moore, Guttmacher Institute
Mardieh Dennis, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Giulia Greco, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Akinrinola Bankole, Guttmacher Institute

Although abortion can be legally provided in Zambia on the grounds of health, economic distress, and rape, it is rarely performed by trained providers under the allowed conditions. We sought to understand the social, health and economic consequences of safe vs. unsafe abortions by conducting in-depth interviews with women seeking safe abortion and those obtaining post-abortion care (PAC), captured from two hospitals and two private health clinics. The study design was longitudinal, capturing women at point of care at Time One (n=54), and following up with them 3-4 months later (n=38). Preliminary results reveal that delays in raising funds increase the risk of the abortion, seeking safe abortion forced women to re-allocate funds intended for other household needs, and that the costs of PAC were a significant burden on women and their families. The opportunity costs for women obtaining PAC were much greater than for women having a safe abortion.