KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARDS ABORTION AMONG KAZAKHSTANI OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS

Abstract

Background: The high incidence of unsafe abortion, especially in low-resource and low-income countries, is primarily due to a lack of health facilities, skilled health workers, and the reluctance of health workers to offer abortion services for cultural, social, and religious reasons. Physicians' willingness to offer abortion services is influenced by their knowledge, experience, and opinions about abortion. Understanding these factors is critical to preventing deaths from unsafe abortion, as obstetricians play an important role in ensuring access to safe abortion services. Addressing gaps in knowledge and training can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of reducing the global maternal mortality ratio from 216 to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Aim. To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of obstetricians and gynecologists regarding abortion and post-abortion care. Methodology: A cross-sectional study conducted from March to June 2024 with the participation of 224 obstetricians and gynecologists and nursing staff of clinics, centers and hospitals in the regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study provides for the participants to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: the first section was devoted to the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants; the second section concerned the knowledge of doctors and nurses about abortion and the third section was devoted to attitudes towards abortion. Results: As a result of the questionnaire, 8.0% of respondents could not give a definition of abortion or were not sure of its exact meaning. 32.1% of respondents know about manual vacuum aspiration, which is the most known method among respondents. A quarter of the respondents, 25.0%, were not familiar with the abortion law. This indicates a large proportion of the population who are not aware of the legal regulations on abortion. 21.4% of the respondents are not aware of post abortion care. This indicates a significant proportion of the respondents who need more information and education on this issue. Conclusion: There is a discrepancy between obstetricians' knowledge of safe abortion and their awareness of the legality of abortion in their countries. All countries need to include abortion in the curricula of medical schools.