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Abortion providers' experiences and views on self-managed medication abortion: an exploratory study
Courtney A Kerestes1, Colleen K Stockdale1, M Bridget Zimmerman2
1University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242.
Contraception
|April 20, 2019
Summary
Most abortion providers have encountered patients self-managing medication abortion. While many believe it is safe, a third have witnessed complications like incomplete abortion or hemorrhage.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Medication Abortion
- Patient Self-Management
Background:
- Self-managed medication abortion occurs outside traditional healthcare systems, limiting data collection.
- Understanding provider experiences is crucial due to the practice's prevalence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess abortion providers' familiarity with self-managed medication abortion.
- To compare regional differences in provider experiences.
- To evaluate provider attitudes towards self-managed abortion safety and prevalence.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was distributed to members of key reproductive health organizations in 2017.
- The survey queried providers' experiences with and opinions on self-managed abortion.
- Data were collected from 650 respondents, including 359 direct abortion providers.
Main Results:
- 68.6% of providers had experience with patients self-managing abortion.
- 153 providers (76.1%) observed the use of misoprostol and/or mifepristone for self-management.
- 34.9% of providers witnessed complications, including incomplete abortion, hemorrhage, sepsis, and uterine rupture.
Conclusions:
- A majority of surveyed providers have encountered self-managed medication abortion.
- Approximately one-third of providers have witnessed complications from this practice.
- Half of providers consider self-managed medication abortion to be safe, highlighting a need for further research.