The health system cost of post-abortion care in Rwanda
Authors
Vlassoff, Michael
Musange, Sabine F.
Kalisa, Ina R.
Ngabo, Fidele
Sayinzoga, Felix
Singh, Susheela
Bankole, Akinrinola
Issue Date
2014-02-17
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Abortion , Cost , PAC , Post-Abortion Care , Rwanda
Alternative Title
Abstract
Based on research conducted in 2012, we estimate the cost to the Rwandan health-care system of providing post-abortion care (PAC) due to unsafe abortions, a subject of policy importance not studied before at the national level. Thirty-nine public and private health facilities representing three levels of health care were randomly selected for data collection from key care providers and administrators for all five regions. Using an ingredients approach to costing, data were gathered on drugs, supplies, material, personnel time and hospitalization. Additionally, direct non-medical costs such as overhead and capital costs were also measured. We found that the average annual PAC cost per client, across five types of abortion complications, was $93. The total cost of PAC nationally was estimated to be $1.7 million per year, 49% of which was expended on direct non-medical costs. Satisfying all demands for PAC would raise the national cost to $2.5 million per year. PAC comprises a significant share of total expenditure in reproductive health in Rwanda. Investing more resources in provision of contraceptive services to prevent unwanted or mistimed pregnancies would likely reduce health systems costs.
Description
Citation
Vlassoff, M., Musange, S. F., Kalisa, I. R., Ngabo, F., Sayinzoga, F., Singh, S., & Bankole, A. (2015). The health system cost of post-abortion care in Rwanda. Health policy and planning, 30(2), 223–233. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czu006
Publisher
Health Policy and Planning