Transitions in abortion care in Ghana: revealing the potential of globalizing provider attitudes

Background Unsafe abortion remains a public health problem in Ghana with colossal costs to families, communities and health services, evident in persistently high maternal mortality ratios. It is well known that access to and utilization of family planning, safe and legal abortion services and quality post abortion care could help curtail the ramifications of unsafe abortions. Ghana has a liberal abortion law, yet safe, legal abortion services are not easily accessible in public health facilities. The extent to which attitudes of providers are influenced by global discourse on abortion and the role of safe abortion in reducing maternal mortality rates, is not well known.