Abstract
Introduction
To increase access to safe abortion in rural India, the feasibility and acceptability
of mifepristone���misoprostol abortion was assessed in a typical government run primary
health center (PHC) in Nagpur district, Maharashtra State, that does not offer surgical
abortion services and must refer off-site for emergency and backup services.
Materials and Methods
Consenting pregnant women (n=149) with ���56 days amenorrhea seeking terminations received 200 mg mifepristone,
and returned 48 h later for 400-��g sublingual misoprostol and 12 days later for abortion
confirmation. Surgical backup was conducted at a nearby community health center (CHC).
Results
Nearly all women (98.6%) with known outcomes had successful medical abortions, and
those who did not (1.4%) were successfully referred to the CHC for surgical backup.
Women reported the method's ease and simplicity as the best features.
Conclusion
Medical abortion provision is feasible and acceptable in an Indian rural PHC that
does not offer surgical abortion services. This study suggests that introduction of
medical abortion at lower levels of the health-care system could increase access to
safe abortion in rural India.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 29, 2007
Accepted:
March 21,
2007
Received in revised form:
February 14,
2007
Received:
December 5,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
