Experience and acceptability of medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol among U.S. women.
Womens Health Issues
; 7(4): 253-62, 1997.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9283280
ABSTRACT
PIP The acceptability of medical abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol) among US women was investigated in a 1995 survey of 262 women seeking this method of pregnancy termination at 3 clinics in Oregon, Washington, and Vermont. The abortion patients' mean age was 27 years; mean gestational age was 49.5 days. 51.1% of respondents had experienced at least one prior abortion. Women completed a questionnaire at their initial clinic visit and again two weeks after the procedure. Participants chose medical abortion to avoid surgery (62.8%) or because they perceived it to be less invasive (56.3%), more natural (40.5%), and associated with a lesser risk of infection or damage to the uterus (35.1%) than vacuum aspiration, and could be performed earlier in pregnancy (27.2%). 49.8% indicated they preferred to wait for abortion to occur with a partner, friend, or family member, while 30.6% preferred to be alone; only 17.6% wanted to wait with other women undergoing the same procedure. Comparison of pre- and post-abortion questionnaires indicated women expected significantly more discomfort than they actually experienced and underestimated the number of days of bleeding. 72.8% of respondents were very satisfied with their medical abortion and 15.5% were somewhat satisfied. Women in the somewhat satisfied group had experienced significantly more abortion-related discomfort and anxiety than those who were very satisfied. Prior abortion experience and demographic characteristics did not influence satisfaction. 94% stated they would recommend medical abortion to a friend and 87% would select medical abortion if they had to terminate another pregnancy. Medical abortion has the potential to increase access to abortion among underserved groups of US women. Appropriate educational materials should be developed to help women choose between abortion methods.^ieng
Key words
Empirical Approach; Genetics and Reproduction; Abortion Seekers; Abortion Surveys; Abortion, Drug Induced; Abortion, Induced; Americas; Biology; Contraception; Contraceptive Usage; Developed Countries; Endocrine System; Family Planning; Fertility Control, Postconception; Hormone Antagonists; Hormones; Method Acceptability; Misoprostol; North America; Northern America; Physiology; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins, Synthetic; Research Report; Ru-486; United States
Search on Google
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Abortifacient Agents
/
Mifepristone
/
Patient Satisfaction
/
Misoprostol
/
Abortion, Legal
/
Pregnant Women
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspects:
Patient_preference
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Womens Health Issues
Journal subject:
GINECOLOGIA
/
OBSTETRICIA
/
SAUDE DA MULHER
Year:
1997
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: