Effects of an intervention initiated by a national society to improve postabortion care in rural facilities in Burkina Faso

Objective To evaluate the results of an intervention by the Societe de Gynecologues et Obstetriciens du Burkina (SOGOB) to improve postabortion care (PAC) in rural areas of Burkina Faso. Methods From June 1, 2012, to May 31, 2013, SOGOB increased capacity for PAC by providing training in health care and equipment to 45 rural health facilities. Performance in PAC in the year before intervention (June 1, 2011, to May 31, 2012) was compared with that in the year following intervention (June 1, 2013, to May 31, 2014). Results The number of cases of incomplete abortion managed within a year increased from 1812 before the intervention to 2738 afterwards. Before capacity building, none of the health facilities was using misoprostol for management of incomplete abortion. After capacity building, misoprostol was used in 805 (29.4%) cases. The use of inappropriate methods to empty the uterus decreased (27.5% [498/1812] vs 1.4% [38/2738]; P