The extent of task‐sharing implementation as a strategy to expand abortion services in Colombia

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the extent to which task‐sharing to midlevel providers has been implemented as a strategy to increase access to abortion provision in Colombia, and examine the factors that have affected decentralization of services. METHODS: We conducted a case study based on the World Health Organization's 2015 guideline: Health Worker Roles in Providing Safe Abortion Care and Post‐abortion Contraception. Documentation was collected on the standard and epidemiological landscape of abortion in Colombia, followed by semistructured discussions with groups and individual stakeholders. RESULTS: Task‐sharing as a distinct policy to increase access to abortion services has not been implemented in Colombia. However, role distribution toward nonspecialist physicians has been used as a strategy to ensure access. Other professionals, such as nurses, have limited tasks in abortion care despite evidence to support a more expanded role. CONCLUSION: The implementation of task‐sharing as a strategy to increase access to safe abortion services in Colombia is influenced by a wide range of factors and, although it is not policy, nonspecialist and diverse healthcare professionals supervise abortion care. Knowing the evidence‐based guidelines to safely and successfully include other healthcare professionals in abortion provision is a fundamental step in implementing this strategy.