BACKGROUND:
In Indonesia, abortion is legally restricted, providers -midwives, in the formal health are not permitted to provide accessible abortion care. Inadequate knowledge of the safety, efficacy, and abortion impairs access and reinforces stigmatizing beliefs. As part of bringing contribution, Samsara is just one example: across the globe, hotlines are at the forefront of working to increase access to safe abortion in their communities.

OBJECTIVES:
To discuss how multi sector approaches are needed to ensure safe and accessible reproductive healthcare and drive scalable, systemic improvements in SRHR access.

METHODS:
In 2024, hotline staff facilitated a series of trainings for midwives (n=34) across Indonesia in an intensive five-day training. To evaluate the effectiveness of these trainings, participants completed a pre-test, followed by two post-training assessments: one immediately after the final session (Post 1) and another three to six months later (Final Post).

RESULTS:
The training led to significant increases. Knowledge of circumstances, and nearly all participants (90% at final-post) correctly identified misoprostol as a safe method compared to just 16% at the pre-test. The training also led to positive shifts in attitudes toward abortion; an increase in participants’ intentions to counsel or talk about abortion to others (45% at pre-, 85% at post 1, and 84% at final-post), raise awareness (45% at pre-, 83% at post 1 and 73% at final-post), and advocate for safe abortion within their communities (40% at pre-, 83% at post 1, 73% at final-post).

CONCLUSIONS:
Knowledge on abortion laws, methods, abortion stigma, and shifting related attitudes and practices has improved. As part of broader advocacy efforts, the training results have been being recognized as evidence to inform the professional development and rebranding strategy led by the Collegium Council of Midwives and the Midwifery Lecturer Association of Indonesia.

KEY MESSAGE:
Key message: training, safe abortion, knowledge, attitudes, midwives, activists Leadership 2 (including three-minute presentation competition)