Reproductive Health, Family Planning and Safe Abortion Care
This domain tests respectful contraceptive counselling and safe abortion care within Cambodia's legal and service-delivery framework.
Core rules
- Counsel on effectiveness, side-effects, return to fertility and dual protection. Long-acting methods (implants, IUDs) are more effective than pills, injectables or condoms.
- Emergency contraception is for unprotected sex or method failure; use as soon as possible, within 72–120 hours depending on the method.
- Lactational amenorrhoea method requires exclusive breastfeeding, amenorrhoea and less than six months postpartum.
- Safe abortion in Cambodia is available on request up to 12 weeks; later only for grounds permitted by law, with referral. Offer MVA or misoprostol and post-abortion contraception.
Worked example
A 22-year-old has 8 weeks of amenorrhoea and requests termination. Reasoning: confirm intrauterine pregnancy and gestation, check for ectopic pregnancy warning signs, explain the legal limit and methods, obtain informed consent, provide MVA or misoprostol, and offer contraception before discharge. Follow up at 1–2 weeks for bleeding, pain and infection.
Traps
- Judging or delaying a woman who requests abortion.
- Using sharp curettage when MVA is available.
- Missing an ectopic pregnancy before assuming intrauterine gestation.
- Forgetting to offer post-abortion family planning.