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Kelesidou V, Tsakiridis I, Virgiliou A, Dagklis T, Mamopoulos A, Athanasiadis A, Kalogiannidis I. Combination of Mifepristone and Misoprostol for First-Trimester Medical Abortion: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Obstet Gynecol Surv 2024; 79:54-63. [PMID: 38306292 DOI: 10.1097/ogx.0000000000001222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Importance Several medications have been used to achieve medical abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy. The most commonly used is the combination of mifepristone and misoprostol; however, different doses and routes of administration have been proposed. Objective The aim of this study was to summarize published data on the effectiveness, adverse effects, and acceptability of the various combinations of mifepristone and misoprostol in medical abortion protocols in the first trimester of pregnancy. Evidence Acquisition This was a comprehensive review, synthesizing the findings of the literature on the current use of mifepristone and misoprostol for first-trimester abortion. Results The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol seems to be more effective than misoprostol alone. Regarding the dosages and routes, mifepristone is administered orally, and the optimal dose is 200 mg. The route of administration of misoprostol varies; the sublingual and buccal routes are more effective; however, the vaginal route (800 μg) is associated with fewer adverse effects. Finally, the acceptability rates did not differ significantly. Conclusions Different schemes for first-trimester medical abortion have been described so far. Future research needs to focus on identifying the method that offers the best trade-off between efficacy and safety in first-trimester medical abortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Kelesidou
- Resident, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Tsakiridis
- Assistant Professor, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Andriana Virgiliou
- Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Themistoklis Dagklis
- Assistant Professor, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Apostolos Mamopoulos
- Professor, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Apostolos Athanasiadis
- Professor, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Kalogiannidis
- Assistant Professor, Third Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
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Raymond EG, Weaver MA, Shochet T. Effectiveness and safety of misoprostol-only for first-trimester medication abortion: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Contraception 2023; 127:110132. [PMID: 37517447 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to update our 2019 systematic review of data on the effectiveness and safety of misoprostol-only for first-trimester abortion. STUDY DESIGN We searched PubMed on December 18, 2022, to find published articles describing the outcomes of treatment with misoprostol-only for abortion of viable intrauterine pregnancy at ≤91 days of gestation. From each article identified, two authors independently abstracted relevant data about each group of patients treated with a distinct regimen. We assessed the risk of bias using four defined indicators. We estimated the proportion of patients with treatment failure using meta-analytic methods as well as the proportion hospitalized or transfused after treatment. We examined associations between treatment failure and selected characteristics of the groups. RESULTS We identified 49 papers with 66 groups that collectively included 16,354 evaluable patients, of whom 2960 (meta-analytic estimate 15%, 95% CI 12%, 19%) had treatment failures. Of 9228 patients assessed for ongoing pregnancy after treatment, 521 (meta-analytic estimate 6%, 95% CI 5%, 8%) had that condition. Failure risk was significantly associated with misoprostol dose, the total allowed number of doses, the maximum duration of dosing, and certain indicators of risk of bias. Among 11,007 patients allowed to take at least three misoprostol doses, the first consisting of misoprostol 800 mcg administered vaginally, sublingually, or buccally, the meta-analytic estimate of the failure risk was 11% (95% CI 8%, 14%). At most, 0.2% of 15,679 evaluable patients were hospitalized or received transfusions. CONCLUSIONS Although some studies in this updated review were adjudicated to have a high risk of bias, the results continue to support the key conclusion of our 2019 analysis: misoprostol-only is effective and safe for the termination of first-trimester intrauterine pregnancy. IMPLICATIONS Misoprostol-only is a safe and effective option for medication abortion in the first trimester if mifepristone is unavailable or inaccessible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark A Weaver
- Elon University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Elon, NC, United States
| | - Tara Shochet
- Gynuity Health Projects, New York, NY, United States
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Shimels T, Getnet M, Shafie M, Belay L. Comparison of mifepristone plus misoprostol with misoprostol alone for first trimester medical abortion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Glob Womens Health 2023; 4:1112392. [PMID: 36970118 PMCID: PMC10038101 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2023.1112392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveTo compare mifepristone plus a misoprostol-combined regimen with misoprostol alone in the medical abortion of first trimester pregnancy.MethodsAn internet-based search of available literature was performed using text words contained in titles and abstracts. PubMed/Medline, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, and Google scholar were used to locate English-based articles published until December 2021. Studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected, appraised, and assessed for methodological quality. The included studies were pooled for meta-analysis, and the results were presented in risk ratio at a 95% confidence interval.FindingsNine studies comprising 2,052 participants (1,035 intervention and 1,017 controls) were considered. Primary endpoints were complete expulsion, incomplete expulsion, missed abortion, and ongoing pregnancy. The intervention was found to more likely induce complete expulsion irrespective of gestational age (RR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.14–1.25). The administration of misoprostol 800 mcg after 24 h of mifepristone pre-treatment in the intervention group more likely induced complete expulsion (RR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.17–1.30) than after 48 h. The intervention group was also more likely to experience complete expulsion when misoprostol was used either vaginally (RR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.09–1.17) or buccally (RR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.16–1.30). The intervention was more effective in the subgroup with a negative foetal heartbeat at reducing incomplete abortion (RR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.26–0.78) compared with the control group. The intervention more likely reduced both missed abortion (RR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.08–0.91) and ongoing pregnancy (RR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.05–0.26). Fever was less likely to be reported (RR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.12–0.89), whereas the subjective experience of bleeding was more likely to be encountered (RR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.13–1.53) by the intervention group.ConclusionThe review strengthened the theory that a combined mifepristone and misoprostol regimen can be an effective medical management for inducing abortions during first trimester pregnancy in all contexts. Specifically, there is a high-level certainty of evidence on complete expulsion during the early stage and its ability to reduce both missed and ongoing pregnancies.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019134213, identifier CRD42019134213.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tariku Shimels
- Research Directorate,St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Correspondence: Tariku Shimels
| | - Melsew Getnet
- Research Directorate,St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mensur Shafie
- Department of Pharmacology, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lemi Belay
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Raymond EG, Mark A, Grossman D, Beasley A, Brandi K, Castle J, Creinin MD, Gerdts C, Gil L, Grant M, Lockley A, Perritt J, Shochet T, Truan D, Upadhyay UD. Medication abortion with misoprostol-only: A sample protocol. Contraception 2023; 121:109998. [PMID: 36849033 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.109998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alice Mark
- National Abortion Federation, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Daniel Grossman
- Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Anitra Beasley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Jen Castle
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mitchell D Creinin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | | | - Laura Gil
- Grupo Médico por el Derecho a Decidir-Colombia, Bogota, Colombia
| | | | - April Lockley
- Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ushma D Upadhyay
- Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
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Abubeker FA, Lavelanet A, Rodriguez MI, Kim C. Medical termination for pregnancy in early first trimester (≤ 63 days) using combination of mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone: a systematic review. BMC WOMENS HEALTH 2020; 20:142. [PMID: 32635921 PMCID: PMC7339463 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-020-01003-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background A wide range of drugs have been studied for first trimester medical abortion. Studies evaluating different regimens, including combination mifepristone and misoprostol and misoprostol alone regimens, show varying results related to safety, efficacy and other outcomes. Thus, the objectives of this systematic review were to compare the safety, effectiveness and acceptability of medical abortion and to compare medical with surgical methods of abortion ≤63 days of gestation. Methods Pubmed and EMBASE were systematically searched from database inception through January 2019 using a combination of MeSH, keywords and text words. Randomized controlled trials on induced abortion at ≤63 days that compared different regimens of medical abortion using mifepristone and/or misoprostol and trials that compared medical with surgical methods of abortion were included. We extracted data into a pre-designed form, calculated effect estimates, and performed meta-analyses where possible. The primary outcomes were ongoing pregnancy and successful abortion. Results Thirty-three studies composed of 22,275 participants were included in this review. Combined regimens using mifepristone and misoprostol had lower rates of ongoing pregnancy, higher rates of successful abortion and satisfaction compared to misoprostol only regimens. In combined regimens, misoprostol 800 μg was more effective than 400 μg. There was no significant difference in dosing intervals between mifepristone and misoprostol and routes of misoprostol administration in combination or misoprostol alone regimens. The rate of serious adverse events was generally low. Conclusion In this systematic review, we find that medical methods of abortion utilizing combination mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone are effective, safe and acceptable. More robust studies evaluating both the different combination and misoprostol alone regimens are needed to strengthen existing evidence as well as assess patient perspectives towards a particular regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferid A Abubeker
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Antonella Lavelanet
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maria I Rodriguez
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Oregon, Portland, USA
| | - Caron Kim
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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Ferguson I, Scott H. Systematic Review of the Effectiveness, Safety, and Acceptability of Mifepristone and Misoprostol for Medical Abortion in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY CANADA 2020; 42:1532-1542.e2. [PMID: 32912726 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogc.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Abortion-related complications remain one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Nearly half of all abortions are unsafe, and the vast majority of these occur in low- and middle-income countries. The use of mifepristone with misoprostol for medical abortion has been proposed and implemented to improve abortion safety. DATA SOURCES A systematic review of the literature was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and CINAHL. STUDY SELECTION Criteria for study inclusion were first-trimester abortion, use of mifepristone with misoprostol, and low- or middle-income country status as designated by the World Health Organization. DATA EXTRACTION Results for effectiveness, safety, acceptability, and qualitative information were assessed. DATA SYNTHESIS The literature search resulted in 181 eligible articles, 52 of which met our criteria for inclusion. A total of 34 publications reported effectiveness data on 25 385 medical abortions. The average effectiveness rate with mifepristone 200 mg and misoprostol 800 µg was 95% up to 63 days gestation. A sensitivity analysis was performed to assume that all women lost to follow-up failed treatment, and the recalculated effectiveness rate remained high at 93%. The average continuing pregnancy rate was 0.6%. A total of 22 publications reported safety and acceptability data on 17 381 medical abortions. Only 0.8% abortions required presentation to hospital, and 87% of patients found the side effects of treatment acceptable. Overall, 95% of women were satisfied with their medical abortion, 94% would choose the method again, and 94% would recommend this method to a friend. A total of 16 publications reported qualitative results and the majority supported positive patient experiences with medical abortion. CONCLUSIONS Mifepristone and misoprostol is highly effective, safe, and acceptable to women in low- and middle-income countries, making it a feasible option for reducing maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide.
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Meaidi A, Friedrich S, Gerds TA, Lidegaard O. Risk factors for surgical intervention of early medical abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2019; 220:478.e1-478.e15. [PMID: 30763542 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND By being noninvasive, medical termination of pregnancy has increased worldwide access to abortion and improved safety of unsafe abortion. However, secondary surgical intervention is the most frequent complication to medical abortion. OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify and quantify risk factors for surgical intervention in women undergoing medically induced termination of pregnancy before 9 completed weeks of gestation. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a nationwide cohort study, including all pregnancies terminated before 63 gestational days in women aged 15-49 years during the period 2005-2015. Induction regimen was 200 mg mifepristone followed 24-48 hours later by 0.8 mg vaginal misoprostol. All included pregnancies were followed up for 8 weeks from mifepristone administration. Data were retrieved from national health registers. Multiple logistic regression provided adjusted odds ratios of surgical intervention with 95% confidence intervals. The discriminative ability of the risk factors in identifying surgical intervention was assessed by cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS Of 86,437 early medical abortions, 5320 (6.2%) underwent a surgical intervention within 8 weeks after induction. The proportion of surgical interventions increased from 3.5% in the 5th to 6th gestational week to 10.3% in week 9, odds ratio, 3.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.9-3.6). Compared with women aged 15-19 years, the risk of surgical intervention increased with increasing maternal age until the age of 30-34 years, odds ratio, 1.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.5-1.9), where after the risk decreased to an odds ratio for age group 40-49 of 1.2 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.4). Compared with nulliparous women, a history of only vaginal deliveries with spontaneous delivery of placenta implied an odds ratio of 1.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.2), women with a history of at least 1 cesarean delivery, an odds ratio of 1.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-1.6), and women having experienced a manual removal of placenta after a vaginal birth, an odds ratio of 2.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.7-2.4). Previous medically induced abortion decreased the risk of surgical intervention, odds ratio 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.91), whereas previous early (before 56 days of gestation) surgically induced abortion implied a 53% (95% confidence interval, 1.4-1.7) increased risk of surgical intervention. Previous surgical abortion after 55 days of gestation increased the risk by 17% (95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.3). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model including all quantified risk factors was 63% (95% confidence interval, 62-64%). CONCLUSION Gestational age, maternal age, previous deliveries, and history of medically and surgically induced abortions all had a significant influence on the risk of surgical intervention of early medical abortion. However, inclusion of all quantified risk factors still left most interventions unpredictable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amani Meaidi
- Department of Gynaecology, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Thomas Alexander Gerds
- Department of Public Health, Section of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Oejvind Lidegaard
- Department of Gynaecology, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Kapp N, Baldwin MK, Rodriguez MI. Efficacy of medical abortion prior to 6 gestational weeks: a systematic review. Contraception 2018; 97:90-99. [DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Verma ML, Singh U, Singh N, Sankhwar PL, Qureshi S. Efficacy of concurrent administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for termination of pregnancy. HUM FERTIL 2016; 20:43-47. [PMID: 27804310 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2016.1243817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In this prospective randomized parallel group study, subjects with a pregnancy of less than 63 d were randomized to receive either (i) 200 mg oral mifepristone plus 400 μg misoprostol per vaginally concurrently (group A); (ii) or the administration of misoprostol after 48 h (group B). Transvaginal sonography was performed on the 14th day of misoprostol administration to confirm complete abortion. The primary outcome was to compare the rates of complete abortion in two groups. Secondary outcomes were to compare induction abortion interval, side effects and compliance. A total of 200 subjects included in the study were randomized into groups A and B (100 each). Both the groups were comparable for age, parity, gestational age and history of previous abortion. The complete expulsion rate in group A was 96% (95% confidence interval (CI) 95.1-98.2%) and group B was 95% (95% CI 93.0-96.8%) (p > 0.100). A gestational age of more than 56 d was found to predict failure of treatment in both groups. The adverse effect profile in the two groups was the same. Efficacy of concurrent mifepristone and misoprostol in combination is similar to that when misoprostol is given 48 h later (ctri.nic.in CTRI/2010/091/001422).
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Affiliation(s)
- Manju Lata Verma
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Hind Institute of Medical Sciences , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh , India
| | - Uma Singh
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , King George's Medical University , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh , India
| | - Nisha Singh
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , King George's Medical University , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh , India
| | - Pushpa Lata Sankhwar
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , King George's Medical University , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh , India
| | - Sabuhi Qureshi
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , King George's Medical University , Lucknow , Uttar Pradesh , India
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Raymond EG, Shannon C, Weaver MA, Winikoff B. First-trimester medical abortion with mifepristone 200 mg and misoprostol: a systematic review. Contraception 2013; 87:26-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2012] [Revised: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Mitchell EMH, Kwizera A, Usta M, Gebreselassie H. Choosing early pregnancy termination methods in Urban Mozambique. Soc Sci Med 2010; 71:62-70. [PMID: 20452107 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2009] [Revised: 03/08/2010] [Accepted: 03/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about who chooses medication abortion with misoprostol and why. Women seeking early abortion in 5 public hospitals in Maputo, Mozambique were recruited in 2005 and 2006 to explore decision-making strategies, method preferences and experiences with misoprostol and vacuum aspiration for early abortion. Client screenings (n=1799), structured clinical surveys (n=837), in-depth exit interviews (n=70), and nurse focus groups (n=2) were conducted. Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data revealed seemingly contradictory findings. Choice of method reflected women's heightened concerns about privacy, pain, quality of home support, HIV infection risk, sexuality, and safety of research participation. Urban Mozambican women are highly motivated to find early pregnancy termination techniques that they deem socially and clinically low-risk. Although 42% found vaginal misoprostol self-administration challenging and 25% delayed care for over a week to amass funds for user fees, almost all (96%) reported adequate preparation and comfort with home management. Women reported satisfaction with all methods and quality of care, even if the initial method failed or pain management or postabortion contraception were not offered. A more nuanced understanding of what women value most can yield service delivery models that are responsive and effective in reducing maternal death and disability from unsafe abortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M H Mitchell
- Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, CINIMA, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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