The right provider for the right place: private nurse-midwives offering primary-level postabortion care in Kenya.

In an effort to reduce maternal mortality or morbidity and decrease the chances of repeat abortion among clients the PRIME-assisted program for private nurse-midwives emphasizes a comprehensive approach to primary-level PAC services. In addition to providing treatment for potentially life-threatening complications the nurse-midwives counsel clients about family planning and contraceptive options and provide or refer for methods to help clients prevent future unwanted pregnancies and practice birth spacing. The nurse-midwives also offer selected reproductive and other health services either at their clinics or via referral to another facility accessible to the client. While some clients may be too traumatized in the aftermath of an unsafe abortion to receive or respond to counseling for family planning and other services taking advantage of a postabortion visit as an opportunity to improve women’s overall reproductive health is critical especially in light of the estimated 14% rate of HIV/AIDS infection among Kenyans aged 15 to 49.3. (excerpt)