Attitudes of doctors toward establishing safe abortion units in Ghana

ObjectivesTo assess physician knowledge of the current legal status of abortion in Ghana and determine the proportion physicians in favor of establishing units where safe abortion would be provided, and the proportion of those willing to offer such services.MethodsA survey conducted at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana, in August 2003. Using a self-administered questionnaire, 74 randomly selected physicians expressed their views on whether abortion units should be established within national health facilities in Ghana, and what role they would play in them.ResultsOf the 59 physicians (80%) who favored the establishment of safe abortion units within national health facilities, 27 (36%) indicated a willingness to take part in counseling only, 33 (45%) were prepared to carry out abortions, and 14 (19%) said they would play no role in these units.ConclusionMost physicians participating in this study conducted in Ghana were willing to play some role in the provision of safe abortion services.