Healthcare Providers’ Knowledge and Attitude Towards Abortions in Thailand: A Pre-Post Evaluation of Trainings on Safe Abortion

Rugsapon Sanitya, Aniqa Islam Marshall, Nithiwat Saengruang, Sataporn Julchoo, Pigunkaew Sinam, Rapeepong Suphanchaimat, Mathudara Phaiyarom, Viroj Tangcharoensathien, Nongluk Boonthai and Kamheang Chaturachinda
Additional contact information
Rugsapon Sanitya: International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Aniqa Islam Marshall: International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Nithiwat Saengruang: International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Sataporn Julchoo: International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Pigunkaew Sinam: International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Rapeepong Suphanchaimat: International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Mathudara Phaiyarom: International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Viroj Tangcharoensathien: International Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand
Nongluk Boonthai: Women’s Health and Reproductive Right and Foundation of Thailand, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
Kamheang Chaturachinda: Women’s Health and Reproductive Right and Foundation of Thailand, Bangkok 10210, Thailand

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Although physicians in Thailand can carry out abortions legally, unsafe abortion rates remain high and have serious consequences for women’s health. Training programs for healthcare providers on the ‘Care of unplanned and adolescent pregnancies for the prevention of unsafe abortions’ have been implemented in Thailand with the aim of providing information and challenging negative attitudes about abortions. This study investigated the participants of the training courses in order to: (i) evaluate their knowledge and attitudes towards safe abortions; and (ii) investigate the factors that determine their knowledge and attitudes. A pre-post study design was applied. Descriptive statistics were calculated to provide an overview of the data. Bivariate analysis, a Wilcoxon signed rank test and a multivariable analysis using multiple linear regression were applied to determine the changes in attitudes and assess the likelihood of behaviour change towards adolescents and women experiencing unplanned pregnancy and abortions, according to demographic and professional characteristics. Having had the training, healthcare providers’ change in attitudes towards adolescents and women experiencing unplanned pregnancies and abortions were found to be 0.67 points for the nine responses of attitudes and 0.79 points for the 14 responses on various abortion scenarios. Changes in attitude were significantly different among the varying health professional types, with non-doctors increasing by 0.53 points, non-obstetricians and non-gynaecologists increasing by 0.46 points and obstetricians and gynaecologists (OBGYN) increasing by 0.32 points. Positive attitudes towards unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions and attitudes towards abortion scenarios significantly increased. The career type of the health professional was a significant factor in improving attitudes. The training program was more effective among non-doctor healthcare providers. Therefore, non-doctors could be the target population for training in the future.

Keywords: abortion; training; health professionals; unplanned pregnancy; Thailand; pre-post evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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