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Article History

Received: 31 May 2022

Accepted: 3 February 2023

First Online: 4 March 2023

Declarations

:

: This research adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Independent ethical approvals were obtained from MSF (ID 18110), the Guttmacher Institute (DHHS identifier IRB00002197), and both Central African Republic (N°18/UB/FACSS/CSCVPER/19) and Jigawa State ethical review boards (MOH/SEC.3/S/548/I). In accordance with the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences guidelines [51], all ethical committees provided a waiver of written informed consent for the extraction of routine clinical data with no identifying information and approved the application of an informed consent opt-out procedure instead. Posters and information notices about the study were available in areas visible to the women presenting for post-abortion care. Health educators provided information about the study in waiting areas and gynecology-obstetric wards. Clinicians in charge of PAC were trained about the study, informed consent opt-out process, and confidentiality principles to verbally inform women about the study and the opt-out option during the clinical visit. If the woman wanted to opt-out, the clinician completed an opt-out form that was inserted in the medical record. A medical record with an opt-out form was excluded from the study. The informed consent opt-out process for women who died was done with the women’s family.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.