International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

To protect the lives and health of Uruguayan women and to reduce abortion under conditions of risk 

The Uruguay project has been implementing quality and confidential pre- and post-abortion counselling in six health centers with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality resulting from unsafe abortion. This model of care has been developed by Iniciativas Sanitarias and works very closely with government. The main focus points are the training of professional health teams; implementing the service into the centers; and sensitizing the community about the services and safe abortion. There is also a large research component that consists of epidemiological and social research to evaluate the behaviors and relationships between health professionals and healthcare users. 

Key successes:

• Pre- and post-abortion counselling services have been fully integrated into these facilities with human resources and materials available:

- More than 500 professionals trained.

- More than 50 professionals directly working on sexual healthcare in the centers.

- Sexual and reproductive rights have been incorporated into the curriculum of the School of Medicine. 

- Involvement of midwifery students.

• Positive changes in provider attitude towards providing care to women with unwanted pregnancies.
• Iniciativas Sanitarias and the Ministry of Health have signed an agreement to implement this model in another five departments in Uruguay. This will be financed by the Ministry of Health. 

Twinned country association: The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)

Conclusion date: 30 June 2010 

Project contacts: 

Ana Labandera, agl@montevideo.com.uy;

Leonel Briozzo, obriozzo@hotmail.com

Project team