New mobile phone app helps healthcare workers provide comprehensive abortion care

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7 August 2023

Healthcare workers have the right to access the most up-to-date evidence-based information, to help them provide comprehensive abortion care. In recognition of this, a new “digital decision support tool” or app has been launched, available on Apple and Google Play, to support caregivers in the process of decision-making, and using the WHO Abortion care guideline, to provide comprehensive abortion care.

This app takes the individual characteristics of patients and generates patient-specific assessments or recommendations, which can then be given to healthcare providers to consider. The tool guides the healthcare worker through assessing abortion-seekers for possible risks, and also gives them checklists and further context to help them in managing cases. It helps to minimize possible mistakes in abortion provision, and even schedules individualized post-abortion follow-ups and referrals.

While the tool cannot be used to store client information and isn’t intended for training purposes, it is likely that it will help to increase the capacity of healthcare providers working on abortion provision. This is because it will harness health workers’ knowledge, guiding them through clinical guidelines, combined with the client’s information. It can be used as a digital job aid, on a mobile device.

This new tool recognizes the crucial importance of supporting healthcare workers to give the essential health care of abortion and post-abortion care. The app also incorporates resources relevant for the provision of abortion care including WHO guidelines, publications, evidence briefs and infographics.