What Is The ACQTool?

The ACQTool (Abortion Care Quality Tool) is a concise set of indicators meticulously developed by an international panel of experts. Through extensive research and usability testing, it provides a precise evaluation of the quality of abortion services received by individuals both during and after their abortion experience. This tool is adaptable for use within facilities as well as outside, such as at pharmacies or through hotlines. It sets a practical global standard for measuring abortion care quality.

The ACQTool is the first-ever global standard to measure the quality of abortion services in low- and middle-income countries. It comprises a concise set of indicators, developed through extensive testing, to accurately assess the quality of abortion care an individual receives. Crucially, the ACQTool goes beyond the safety of the immediate procedure, evaluating how well the client’s actual needs and values for their abortion care have been met across seven primary domains:

1. Referral Services
2. Supplies, Medicines, and Equipment
3. Access
4. Technical Competence
5. Decision Making
6. Information Provision
7. Client-Provider Interactions

Using The ACQTool

ACQTool survey questions are available in both paper and electronic formats, facilitating easy administration. These surveys can be utilized independently or integrated into existing data collection platforms within organizations. Indicator calculation and data analysis of survey responses can then be efficiently carried out using our Stata statistical software code.

Moreover, the ACQTool is accessible as an XLSForm, uploadable and deployable in your KoBoToolbox account. Survey responses can be captured using KoBoToolbox’s platform, allowing for seamless online and offline data collection. Collected data can then be downloaded, and site-level indicators can be calculated and visualized using our custom Excel performance dashboard.