Treating incomplete abortion in El Salvador: cost savings with manual vacuum aspiration.

When manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) was introduced to treat incomplete abortion at a regional training hospital in El Salvador, this study evaluated the impact of replacing sharp curettage with MVA. Hospital cost, length of hospital stay, complication rates and postabortion contraceptive acceptance were compared in a prospective, nonrandomized, controlled study of 154 women assigned to either traditional sharp curettage services or MVA services plus contraceptive counseling. Assignment depended on availability of trained providers. Compared to sharp curettage, use of MVA and associated changes in protocol led to a significant cost savings of 13% and shorter hospital stay of 28%. Dedicated family-planning counseling resulted in a threefold higher rate of contraceptive acceptance. Although the difference in cost was significant, much higher savings could be realized if minimal postoperative stays were implemented for both procedures. Barriers to early discharge include patient expectations, physician attitudes and training and hospital systems administration.

Cost savings of manual vacuum aspiration for endometrial sampling in El Salvador.

Despite the existence of less costly and less invasive techniques to evaluate abnormal uterine bleeding, sharp curettage continues to be the most common form of endometrial sampling in the less developed world. Because manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) equipment is often associated with abortion care in countries where abortion is illegal, many practitioners have been slow to incorporate its use for other gynecological conditions. In this study, MVA was introduced in a large teaching hospital in El Salvador as an alternative for patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Hospital cost, length of stay and complication rates were compared in a prospective, nonrandomized controlled study of 163 patients assigned to either traditional sharp curettage or MVA services. Patients were assigned to each group depending on the availability of trained providers. Methodologies for cost-savings analysis were modified to obtain more precise cost estimates. Use of MVA was associated with a significant cost savings of 11% and a hospital stay that was 27% shorter as compared to sharp curettage. Cost savings could be much higher if MVA was institutionalized as an ambulatory procedure with minimal or no preoperative evaluation and postoperative stay.

Predictors of contraception knowledge and use among postpartum adolescents in El Salvador.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to describe demographics and contraceptive familiarity and use among postpartum adolescents in El Salvador. STUDY DESIGN: Questionnaire-guided interviews were conducted in Spanish with 50 postpartum adolescents at an urban, public hospital in El Salvador. Open-ended questions included assessments of education, partnership status, and contraceptive knowledge and use patterns. RESULTS: The median age of subjects was 17 years, 84% were nulliparous, 80% had partners, and 6% were married. Eighty-four percent of the women reported contraception knowledge and 18% reported contraception use. Educational experience and literacy predicted contraceptive knowledge (P = .008 and .001, respectively), but not use. After delivery and postpartum contraception education, 58% of the subjects stated intention to use contraception. Having a partner and living with him were predictors of intent to use contraception (P = .001 and .002, respectively). Being single negatively predicted intention to use contraception (P = .001). CONCLUSION: Education and literacy predicted contraceptive knowledge; however, contraceptive knowledge did not predict contraceptive use. Adolescent contraception use depends on more than just contraceptive knowledge.