Is It Safe to Provide Abortion Pills over the Counter? A Study on Outcome Following Self-Medication with Abortion Pills
Background: Medical abortion is a safe method of termination of pregnancy when performed as per guidelines with a success rate of 92-97 %. But self-administration of abortion pills is rampant throughout the country due to over the counter availability of these drugs and complications are not unc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/5388/11626_CE(RA1)_F(T)_PF1(PAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG)PF3(PAK).pdf |
| _version_ | 1831762816292356096 |
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| author | Nivedita K. Fatima Shanthini |
| author_facet | Nivedita K. Fatima Shanthini |
| author_sort | Nivedita K. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Medical abortion is a safe method of termination of
pregnancy when performed as per guidelines with a success rate
of 92-97 %. But self-administration of abortion pills is rampant
throughout the country due to over the counter availability of
these drugs and complications are not uncommon due to this
practice. The society perceives unsupervised medical abortion
as a very safe method of termination and women use this as a
method of spacing.
Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to study the implications of self-administration of abortion pills by pregnant women.
Materials and Methods: Retrospective observational study done
in Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College & Hospital between
the period of July 2013 to June2014. Case sheets were analysed
to obtain data regarding self-administration of abortion pills and
complications secondary to its administration. The following data
were collected. Age, marital status, parity, duration of pregnancy
as perceived by the women, confirmation of pregnancy, duration
between pill intake and visit to hospital, whether any intervention
done elsewhere, any known medical or surgical complications,
Hb level on admission, whether patient was in shock, USG findings, evidence of sepsis, blood transfusion, treatment given and
duration of hospital stay. Descriptive analysis of the collected
data was done.
Results: Among the 128 cases of abortion in the study period,
40 (31.25%) patients had self-administered abortion pills. Among
these 40 patients 27.5% had consumed abortion pills after the
approved time period of 63 days of which 17.5% had consumed
pills after 12 weeks of gestation. The most common presentation
was excessive bleeding (77.5%) Severe anaemia was found in
12.5% of the patients and 5% of patients presented with shock.
The outcome was as follows : 62.5% of the patients were found
to have incomplete abortion, 22.5% had failed abortion and
7.5% of patients had incomplete abortion with sepsis. Surgical
evacuation was performed in 67.5% of the patients whereas
12.5% of the patients required surgical evacuation with blood
transfusion. Medical methods were used in 15% of the patients
whereas 2.5% required transfusion along with medical methods.
Conclusion: Unsupervised medical abortion can lead to increased
maternal morbidity and mortality. To curtail this harmful practice,
strict legislations are required to monitor and also to restrict the
sales of abortion pills over the counter and access to abortion
pills for the public should be only through centers approved for
MTP. Large scale prospective studies are required to assess the
actual magnitude of this problem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T05:13:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ea3cef63bef4fc8a46ef151fb501d39 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2249-782X 0973-709X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T05:13:45Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ea3cef63bef4fc8a46ef151fb501d392022-12-21T18:37:54ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2015-01-0191QC01QC0410.7860/JCDR/2015/11626.5388Is It Safe to Provide Abortion Pills over the Counter? A Study on Outcome Following Self-Medication with Abortion PillsNivedita K.0Fatima Shanthini1Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sri Manakulavinayagar Medical College Hospital, Kalitheerthalkuppam, Puducherry, India.Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sri Manakulavinayagar Medical College Hospital, Kalitheerthalkuppam, Puducherry, India.Background: Medical abortion is a safe method of termination of pregnancy when performed as per guidelines with a success rate of 92-97 %. But self-administration of abortion pills is rampant throughout the country due to over the counter availability of these drugs and complications are not uncommon due to this practice. The society perceives unsupervised medical abortion as a very safe method of termination and women use this as a method of spacing. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to study the implications of self-administration of abortion pills by pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Retrospective observational study done in Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College & Hospital between the period of July 2013 to June2014. Case sheets were analysed to obtain data regarding self-administration of abortion pills and complications secondary to its administration. The following data were collected. Age, marital status, parity, duration of pregnancy as perceived by the women, confirmation of pregnancy, duration between pill intake and visit to hospital, whether any intervention done elsewhere, any known medical or surgical complications, Hb level on admission, whether patient was in shock, USG findings, evidence of sepsis, blood transfusion, treatment given and duration of hospital stay. Descriptive analysis of the collected data was done. Results: Among the 128 cases of abortion in the study period, 40 (31.25%) patients had self-administered abortion pills. Among these 40 patients 27.5% had consumed abortion pills after the approved time period of 63 days of which 17.5% had consumed pills after 12 weeks of gestation. The most common presentation was excessive bleeding (77.5%) Severe anaemia was found in 12.5% of the patients and 5% of patients presented with shock. The outcome was as follows : 62.5% of the patients were found to have incomplete abortion, 22.5% had failed abortion and 7.5% of patients had incomplete abortion with sepsis. Surgical evacuation was performed in 67.5% of the patients whereas 12.5% of the patients required surgical evacuation with blood transfusion. Medical methods were used in 15% of the patients whereas 2.5% required transfusion along with medical methods. Conclusion: Unsupervised medical abortion can lead to increased maternal morbidity and mortality. To curtail this harmful practice, strict legislations are required to monitor and also to restrict the sales of abortion pills over the counter and access to abortion pills for the public should be only through centers approved for MTP. Large scale prospective studies are required to assess the actual magnitude of this problem.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/5388/11626_CE(RA1)_F(T)_PF1(PAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG)PF3(PAK).pdfcomplicationsmedical abortionself-administrationunsafe abortion |
| spellingShingle | Nivedita K. Fatima Shanthini Is It Safe to Provide Abortion Pills over the Counter? A Study on Outcome Following Self-Medication with Abortion Pills Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research complications medical abortion self-administration unsafe abortion |
| title | Is It Safe to Provide Abortion Pills over the Counter? A Study on Outcome Following Self-Medication with Abortion Pills |
| title_full | Is It Safe to Provide Abortion Pills over the Counter? A Study on Outcome Following Self-Medication with Abortion Pills |
| title_fullStr | Is It Safe to Provide Abortion Pills over the Counter? A Study on Outcome Following Self-Medication with Abortion Pills |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is It Safe to Provide Abortion Pills over the Counter? A Study on Outcome Following Self-Medication with Abortion Pills |
| title_short | Is It Safe to Provide Abortion Pills over the Counter? A Study on Outcome Following Self-Medication with Abortion Pills |
| title_sort | is it safe to provide abortion pills over the counter a study on outcome following self medication with abortion pills |
| topic | complications medical abortion self-administration unsafe abortion |
| url | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/5388/11626_CE(RA1)_F(T)_PF1(PAK)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG)PF3(PAK).pdf |
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