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Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Volume  5, Issue 3, Jul-Sep 2017, Pages 329-334
 

Original Article

Profile of Medical Abortion Seekers from a Teaching Institute in North Eastern India

Nalini Sharma*, Das Riruparna**, Salam Sushila**, J. Lalnunnem Thiek**, Wansalan Karu Shullai*, Ahanthem Santa Singh***

*Assistant Professor **Senior Resident ***Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences Shillong, Meghalaya- 793018, India.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijog.2321.1636.5317.1

Abstract

Introduction: Medical termination of pregnancy has been legalized in India for over four decades since the MTP Act was passed in Indian parliament in1971 to safe guard the health of the mother yet unsafe abortion continues to be responsible for 13% of maternal mortality. Medical abortion is the method to terminate pregnancy by using mifepristone and misoprostol tablets by giving them at 48 hours interval. As per WHO it a safe and effective method upto 9 weeks (63 days) of gestation. Awareness and attitude about medical abortion amongst the general population are not documented extensively. This study was carried out to gauze the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical abortion and also the sociodemographic profile of women seeking abortion in a teaching institute in the north eastern part of India. Materials and Method: This prospective study included 220 women who opted for medical abortion from September 2015 to February 2017. All the information regarding age, religion, residence, income, socioeconomic status, education of both partners, occupation, parity, history of previous MTP (medical or surgical), awareness and utilisation of routine and emergency contraception, awareness about medical abortion, gestational age at present pregnancy, indication of MTP, person taking decision for MTP, was taken on a pre-structured format. Result: During the study period 220 women opted for medical abortion. Majority of the women (66.8%) were between 25-34 years age group. Mean age in years was 28.1 ± 4.76 and mean parity was 1.8 ±1.28. Previous history of abortion was present in 45%. Only 20.4 %( 45) women were aware about medical abortion. Most common indication of MTP was completed family (30%) and spacing (23.2%). Pre and post procedure contraceptive uses were 39% and 45%. Majority of women were Hindu (68.2%), married (84.1%), housewives (72.7%), residing in urban area(61.4%), less educated and belonging to a lower socioeconomic status (70.3%). Conclusion: According to the present study, women in younger age group, Hindu by religion, married, housewives, residing in urban area, less educated and belonging to a lower socioeconomic status are more likely to seek for abortion. In our study women who were initially unaware of medical abortion opted for medical abortion after proper counseling and had high success rate. Increasing the Knowledge of the safety and effectiveness of medical abortion in general population with special attention targeting this vulnerable population would be a major step towards our goal of population control and ensuring safe abortion.

Keywords: Medical Abortion; First Trimester; Mifepristone; Misoprostol; Demographic. 


Corresponding Author : Nalini Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, B 1 D, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya-793018, India.