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.

Acceso al Aborto medicamentoso para mujeres víctima de violencia sexual, Guatemala

El informe describe las actividades realizadas para mejorar el acceso de las mujeres víctimas de violencia sexual del área rural al aborto seguro con Misoprostol a través de la atención directa o la referencia por proveedores no médicos que atienden y acompañan a las mujeres durante el proceso de sobrevivencia de la violencia

Ampliando el acceso a mujeres vulnerables de los asentamientos humanos de los distritos del sur de Lima, Perú

Describe las actividades desarrolladas por el proyecto, se enfocó en mejorar el acceso al aborto seguro ( incluyendo uso de misoprostol) de las mujeres de los distritos de Villa el salvador, San Juan de Miraflores, Villa María del Triunfo y Lurín, a través de campañas informativas y capacitación de promotoras de pares, quienes estén preparadas para identificar situaciones de riesgo en mujeres con embarazo no deseado y puedan referir para su atención