Attitude and Experiences of Young Women towards Medical Abortion: A Hospital Based Study
Journal Title: Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences - Year 2014, Vol 2, Issue 6
Abstract
As per WHO, medical abortion is safe and effective method for termination of early pregnancy. A combination of mifepristone (200mg orally) followed by misopristol (800µg vaginally or 400 µg orally) 36-48 hrs later administered to induce abortion. Before administration of these drugs, confirmation of pregnancy, gestational age and site of pregnancy is must. These drugs should be administered under medical supervision to avoid complications like undetected extra-uterine pregnancy, incomplete abortion, septicaemia, heavy bleeding and resultant complication. Despite these recommendations, many people consider these drugs as safe and effective in the hands of untrained personals and purchase over the counter directly from the chemists without proper prescription and become victims of unsafe abortion. The present study was conducted to assess the attitude and experiences of young women towards medical abortion, self medication and to generate awareness regarding safe abortion practices. A prospective cross sectional study was carried out on 200 married women in age group between 18-35 years attending Out Patient Unit of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences (SLIMS), Bharath University, Pondicherry- 605009, INDIA employing systematic random sampling method. The socio-demographic data, obstetrical history was collected and was correlated with women’s knowledge and attitude towards medical abortion. The experiences of the women already undergone medical abortion were also recorded. The average age of women included in the study was 23.4 years ±4.2. The knowledge and usage of medical abortion drugs among the participants was 92.5 % and 17.5% respectively. Age, education, socio-economic status, religion and parity had the significant role in knowledge and attitude towards medical abortion. Most of the participants seek medical abortion to limit family size, birth spacing, unintended pregnancy, failure of contraception and socioeconomic limitations. Television, chemists, friends and relatives were the most important source of information about medical abortion. Knowledge about the brand name, time frame for usage and the side effects of medical abortion were known to 8.1%, 13.5% and 30.2% of the participants, respectively. Most of the participants acknowledged self medication without any medical supervision. Among the 35 participants who had undergone medical abortion, the important reported side effects of medical abortion were nausea , vomiting, moderate to severe abdominal cramps, heavy, prolonged and persistent bleeding. 10 number of participants reported incomplete abortion, out of which 8 had to undergo surgical evacuation and 4 participants reported infection following abortion. The present study recommends that the medical abortion is safe and effective method for termination of early pregnancy. However, these drugs should be administered under medical supervision and patient should be counselled for post abortal contraceptive usage. Government should have vigilance on over the counter sale of these drugs. Health care providers, non-government organisation and government agencies should work in unison to encourage contraceptive usage, safe abortion practices and safe motherhood. Keywords: Medical abortion, Self medication, Awareness, Practice, Experiences.
Authors and Affiliations
Nirmala Jaget Lakkawar, Shally Magon, Padma Alaganandam
Keywords
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