Healthcare Workers Experiences in Providing Comprehensive Abortion Care to Adolescents in the Eastern Region of Ghana: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Globally, abortion rates among young women is a public health concern. The Eastern region of Ghana has a high rate of abortions with 17.8% occurring among adolescents in 2021. Adolescents face difficulty accessing comprehensive abortion care (CAC) due to conflict over their decision-making capacity and the requirement for parental consent. This study explored the experiences of healthcare workers in providing CAC to adolescents in the New Juaben Municipality in Eastern Region, Ghana. Methods A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted among 12 healthcare providers. Participants who had provided CAC services for at least 6 months were selected through purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted and audio-recorded with permission from the participants. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductive thematic analysis was done using ATLAS. it. Results were presented using quotes. Findings : Many midwives reportedly felt bad, uncomfortable, and guilty about providing abortion care. Others also felt psychological trauma, which compelled them to stop providing CAC services. Many service providers including physician specialists and some midwives however continuously provided CAC services as part of their professional responsibility to save lives. Conclusion The experiences of CAC service providers are diverse. Values clarification workshops are necessary to help healthcare providers balance their religious beliefs and CAC provision. Public education on safe abortion care needs to be strengthened to normalise CAC discussions and reduce the stigma towards CAC service providers.