Postabortion contraception: few family planning services available.

PIP: The Association for Voluntary Surgical Contraception (AVSC) investigated the linkages between induced abortion and family planning services in a qualitative research project conducted in Colombia, India, and Turkey. Study methodologies included interviews with abortion and family planning service providers, record review, observation, and discussions with policy-makers. In general, abortion and family planning services were entirely separate. Although postabortion clients clearly wanted to avoid another unwanted pregnancy, they generally failed to receive family planning information and services. Abortion providers tended not to view contraceptive provision as their responsibility and, in many cases, had negative attitudes toward abortion patients. Services for abortion and family planning often were not available on the same day or in the same location. In some areas in India, where abortion patients were provided with contraception (IUD and sterilization), its provision was coerced as a condition for abortion. AVSC is working to raise awareness of the need to integrate service links between abortion and family planning programs.^ieng