Grenadian doctors’ perceptions on abortion

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess perceptions of Grenadian physician on abortion. DESIGN AND METHODS: An online survey was created and emailed to all doctors registered to practice in Grenada. Once the data was collected, it was analyzed using SPSS. RESULTS: A response rate of 58% (45 out of 78 physicians) took part in this study. Almost all physicians (93%) indicated that they were personally aware of unsafe abortions being performed in Grenada. The three main complications physicians reported as arising out of unregulated abortion procedures were bleeding (18%), infection (17%), and uterine perforation (17%). Health education was identified by 93% of physicians as the best solution to preventing unsafe abortions. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all local physicians reported that unsafe abortions are taking place in Grenada and that the best solutions to this problem would be to provide health education along with use of modern contraception and the use of legalized and regulated abortion services. Specifically, the implementation of school-based health education program could prove effective in minimizing the conditions that lead to women being placed in a position where they feel that they have to resort to unsafe abortion procedures.