Research priorities to support evidence-informed policies and advocacy for access to safe abortion care in sub-Saharan Africa. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ajayi, Anthony Idowu; Ouedraogo, Ramatou; Juma, Kenneth; Kibunja, Grace; Cheruiyot, Collins; Mwoka, Meggie; Igonya, Emmy Kageha; Opondo, Winnie; Otukpa, Emmanuel; Kabiru, Caroline W.; Ushie, Boniface Ayanbekongshie
• Is Part Of: Sexual & reproductive health matters. Volume 29:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 5
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: safe abortion -- comprehensive abortion care -- Maputo Protocol -- advocacy and policy engagement -- post-abortion care -- abortion research priorities -- sub-Saharan Africa; Sexual health -- Periodicals; Reproductive health -- Periodicals; Women's health services -- Periodicals; Women's rights -- Periodicals; Women's rights; Women's health services; Sexual health; Reproductive health; Sexual Health; Reproductive Health; Women's Health; Women's Rights; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodical; 613.9
• DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2021.1881207
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2641-0397

Abstract

Abstract: A key obstacle to advocacy efforts to promote legal and policy reforms that ensure women's and girls' access to comprehensive abortion care (CAC) is the lack of relevant and timely evidence. This commentary outlines a research agenda-setting initiative that identified research priorities to support evidence-informed policy and advocacy for CAC access in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It involved three phases: 1) a landscape analysis; 2) research agenda co-creation with stakeholders, and 3) a validation exercise on research priorities. Overall, the priority evidence needs included 1) estimating the incidence and magnitude of unsafe abortion and related costs; 2) examining the role of abortion laws and policies in facilitating or inhibiting access to CAC; 3) developing and documenting successful approaches for addressing societal barriers to the provision of CAC, and fostering a more inclusive and liberal abortion environment, and 4) documenting practice-based evidence on the provision of legal abortion services as well as for advocating for CAC. Various stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, and funding agencies, will find the agenda useful as they engage, at different levels, for the full domestication and implementation of forward-looking commitments on access to CAC in SSA.