Costs of post-abortion care in low- and middle-income countries

Objective: To evaluate the quality of costing studies of post-abortion care from low- and middle-income countries and to describe costs in various settings.

Methods: A systematic review identified unit costs. Descriptive statistical analysis and univariate regression analysis identified drivers of unit costs of post-abortion care.

Results: There are few cost studies from Asia or Eastern Europe. Data indicate that the cost (in 2007 international dollars) of post-abortion care in Africa and Latin America is $392 and $430, respectively, per case.

Conclusion: Differences in post-abortion care costs were associated with region, procedure, facility level, case severity, and whether the study was operations research. Methods varied between studies, and efforts should be made in future research to improve consistency. Additional data are needed from Asia and Eastern Europe, as well as the costs of medical methods of uterine evacuation. These data justify improved access to contraception and safe, legal abortion.