Abortion: Quality Care and Public Health Implications

WEEK 1: Abortion in the U.S. And Around the World

• Introduction to the public-health framework of this course
  
• Who has abortions, why, and how do they access care
  
• History of abortion and abortion stigma
  

WEEK 2: Abortion, Professionalism, and Patient-Centered Counseling

• Principles of pregnancy options counseling, abortion counseling, and informed consent
  
• Abortion in the United States after legalization
  
• Professional responsibilities around abortion care
  
• Values clarification about abortion care
  
• Conscientious provision and refusal in abortion care
  

WEEK 3: Abortion in the First Trimester

• Clinical aspects of medication abortion, aspiration abortion, post-abortion contraception, and pain management for abortion
• Legislative and policy obstacles to abortion access
  

WEEK 4: Abortion after the First Trimester: Obstacles to Accessing Safe Abortion in the U.S. And Worldwide

• Who has abortions after the first trimester and how do they access care
  
• Clinical aspects of abortion after the first trimester
  
• Role of patient preference in appropriate care
  
• Guidelines for safe abortion care and the principles of high-quality abortion care across settings
• Complications and myths about abortion
  

WEEK 5: Overcoming Obstacles to Abortion Access

• Sociology of abortion especially related to health and health-care disparities
  
• Impact of obstacles on clinical care
  
• Importance of abortion training for health professionals
  

WEEK 6: Early Pregnancy Loss and Course Conclusions

• Patient-centered care for early pregnancy loss
  
• Counseling and decision making for early pregnancy loss
  
• Relationship between early pregnancy loss care and abortion care
  
• Course conclusions