Knowledge of medical abortion among Brazilian medical students

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge of Brazilian medical students regarding medical abortion (MA) and the use of misoprostol for MA, and to investigate factors influencing their knowledge. METHODS: All students from 3 medical schools in São Paulo State were invited to complete a pretested structured questionnaire with precoded response categories. A set of 12 statements on the use and effects of misoprostol for MA assessed their level of knowledge. Of about 1260 students invited to participate in the study, 874 completed the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 69%. The Ï (2) test was used for the bivariate analysis, which was followed by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Although all students in their final year of medical school had heard of misoprostol for termination of pregnancy, and 88% reported having heard how to use it, only 8% showed satisfactory knowledge of its use and effects. Academic level was the only factor associated with the indicators of knowledge investigated. CONCLUSION: The very poor knowledge of misoprostol use for MA demonstrated by the medical students surveyed at 3 medical schools makes the review and updating of the curriculum urgently necessary.

Legal Abortion: A Comparative Analysis of Health Regulations

This publication is the result of a comparative analysis of laws and health regulations governing access to legal abortion in 13 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Guyana, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South Africa, and Spain. It seeks to promote access to safe and legal abortion services by developing health regulations and guidelines that are grounded in a human rights framework.

Working to improve access to safe abortion

Presentación en la 4ta. Conferencia Regional del CLACAI. Reafirmando el legado de Cairo: Aborto legal y seguro. Lima, 21 y 22 de Agosto de 2014

Health care providers' opinions on abortion: a study for the implementation of the legal abortion public policy in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina

Background: In Argentina, abortion has been decriminalized under certain circumstances since the enactment of the Penal Code in 1922. Nevertheless, access to abortion under this regulatory framework has been extremely limited in spite of some recent changes. This article reports the findings of the first phase of an operations research study conducted in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina, regarding the implementation of the local legal and safe abortion access policy. Methods: The project combined research and training to generate a virtuous circle of knowledge production, decision-making, and the fostering of an informed healthcare policy. The project used a pre-post design of three phases: baseline, intervention, and evaluation. It was conducted in two public hospitals. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire (n = 157) and semi-structured interviews (n = 27) were applied to gather information about tacit knowledge about the regulatory framework; personal opinions regarding abortion and its decriminalization; opinions on the requirements needed to carry out legal abortions; and service’s responses to women in need of an abortion. Results: Firstly, a fairly high percentage of health care providers lack accurate information on current legal framework. This deficit goes side by side with a restrictive understanding of both health and rape indications. Secondly, while a great majority of health care providers support abortion under the circumstances consider in the Penal Code, most of them are reluctant towards unrestricted access to abortion. Thirdly, health care providers’ willingness to perform abortions is noticeably low given that only half of them are ready to perform an abortion when a woman’s life is at risk. Willingness is even lower for each of the other current legal indications. Conclusions: Findings suggest that there are important challenges for the implementation of a legal abortion policy. Results of the study call for specific strategies targeting health care providers in order to better inform about current legal abortion regulations and to sensitize them about abortion social determinants. The interpretation of the current legal framework needs to be broadened in order to reflect a comprehensive view of the health indication, and stereotypes regarding women’s sexuality and abortion decisions need to be dismantled.

Women’s experiences with the use of medical abortion in a legally restricted context: the case of Argentina

This article presents the findings of a qualitative study exploring the experiences of women living in Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, Argentina, with the use of misoprostol for inducing an abortion. We asked women about the range of decisions they had to make, their emotions, the physical experience, strategies they needed to use, including seeking health care advice and in dealing with a clandestine medical abortion, and their overall evaluation of the experience. An in-depth interview schedule was used. The women had either used misoprostol and sought counselling or care at a public hospital (n=24) or had used misoprostol based on the advice of a local hotline, information from the internet or from other women (n=21). Four stages in the women’s experiences were identified: how the decision to terminate the pregnancy was taken, how the medication was obtained, how the tablets were used, and reflections on the outcome whether or not they sought medical advice. Safety and privacy were key in deciding to use medical abortion. Access to the medication was the main obstacle, requiring a prescription or a friendly drugstore. Correct information about the number of pills to use and dosage intervals was the least easy to obtain and caused concerns. The possibility of choosing a time of privacy and having the company of a close one was highlighted as a unique advantage of medical abortion. Efforts to improve abortion law, policy and service provision in Argentina in order to ensure the best possible conditions for use of medical abortion by women should be redoubled.

Guadalupe’s pardon: UN experts urge El Salvador to pardon all women jailed for pregnancy complications and repeal restrictive abortion law

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=15520&LangID=E

Caribbean initiative on abortion and contraception: Acercando el Caribe a América Latina en la lucha por el aborto seguro, Puerto Rico

Describe las actividades realizadas en la visita a la región del caribe Oriental con el propósito de actualizar la situación del aborto, parece ser un momento histórico muy particular en esta región del Caribe Oriental con una clara tendencia hacia la liberalización en lo que toca a la legislación sobre aborto. Dado el contexto particular de ser regiones geográficas pequeñas, donde la intimidad y estigma se ven más vulnerados, la colaboración internacional en lo tocante al tema del aborto es bienvenida y ciertamente podría contribuir a facilitar el diálogo entre los tres sectores más afectados las mujeres, profesionales de salud y el sector gubernamental

Who has a repeat abortion? Identifying women at risk of repeated terminations of pregnancy : analysis of routinely collected health care data

Peer reviewed

Abortion surveillance /

Description based on: 1976.

Report of the Departmental Committee appointed by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries to inquire into epizootic abortion ... [with Minutes of evidence and appendices]

Mode of access: Internet.

Studies in vaccinal immunity towards disease of the bovine placenta due to bacillus abortus (infectious abortion) /

"November 15, 1923"--Cover.

A study of infectious abortion in cattle,

Reprinted from: Cornell University. New York State Veterinary College. Annual report, 1912/13, p.82-114.

Laboratory diagnosis of abortion in food animals : a special report /

Imprint stamped on t.p.

Illinois abortion statistics /

Published pursuant to the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 (720 ILCS 510/10) which stipulates that a report be submitted annually to the Illinois General Assembly.