KATHMANDU: Overall rate of complications related to abortion cases in the country is less than two per cent — on par with World Health Organisation standard, if the findings of an INGO are anything to go by.

In the first such nationwide examination after the legal service was made available for the same in the country in 2004, it has been found that the complications resulting from abortion are minimal after the service was offered in state-run hospitals and private clinics across the country.

The research was conducted by Population, Health and Development (PHD) Group on 7,386 respondents who had received abortion care at public, private and NGOs’ health facilities.

Dr Indira Basnet, country director of International Reproductive Health Organisation, attributed such findings to legalisation of abortion and effective facilities at the health facilities.

Dr Basnet added that expanded service sites, good training to service providers and adherence to protocol were improving the care of such women service seekers.

The report recommended family health division under Department of Health Service for taking initiatives for preparing an action plan to address the issues to improve complication and for tracking, reporting and improving quality of comprehensive abortion care in the country.

The authorities have been urged to prepare information, education and communication strategy, addressing the possible complications arising from abortion and family planning services.

Ministry of Health and Population began providing comprehensive abortion care in 2004 — two years after abortion law was legalised in the country. From 2004 to 2007, the safe abortion service was provided in 176 government, non-government and privately-run health facilities across the country.

The findings indicate an improvement in maternal mortality rate since the legalisation of abortion in Nepal.