Acceptability and feasibility of mifepristone medical abortion in the early first trimester in Azerbaijan

Abstract

Objective To examine the acceptability and feasibility of early medical abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol in Azerbaijan.

Methods A total of 863 women in Baku and two regions of Azerbaijan who sought termination of gestations up to 63 days were enrolled in the study. In the capital, women swallowed 200 mg mifepristone in the clinic and were given the option of taking 800 μg misoprostol buccally either at the clinic or at home 24–48 hours later. In the regions, women were given the option of taking both drugs at home. Follow-up visits were to take place two weeks after mifepristone administration to determine abortion status.

Results Seventy-four percent of women in the regions chose home administration of mifepristone, and 92% of women from all locations selected misoprostol home administration. Ninety-seven percent of women had complete abortions, and 97% were satisfied or very satisfied with the method. The vast majority of participants preferred medical abortion for a future procedure (96%). Nearly all women (98%) would recommend medical abortion for pregnancy termination to a friend.

Conclusion Mifepristone-misoprostol medical abortion with the option of home administration of both drugs is an acceptable and feasible option for women in Azerbaijan.

Chinese Abstract

摘要 目的 研究阿塞拜疆妇女对应用米非司酮米索前列醇进行早期妊娠药物流产的可接受性及可行性。

方法 研究选取在阿塞拜疆首都巴库以及两个地区的要求终止63天内妊娠的863名妇女。在巴库，流产妇女在门诊口服200mg的米非司酮，24-48小时后她们可以选择在门诊或在家舌下含服800ug的米索前列醇。在阿塞拜疆的两个地区这两种药物妇女都可以选择在家服用。服用米非司酮后两周进行随访，以判断流产的状况。

结果 阿塞拜疆两个地区的74%的妇女选择在家服用米非司酮，所有入选妇女的92%都选择了在家服用米索前列醇。所有药物流产中，完全流产率为97%。97%的妇女对这种流产方法表示满意或非常满意，绝大部分的妇女（96%）表示以后会优先选择这种方法，几乎所有的妇女（98%）愿意把这种流产的方法介绍给她们的朋友。

结论 在阿塞拜疆，让妇女选择在家里使用米非司酮-米索前列醇进行药物流产是可以接受的也是可行的。

KEYWORDS:

• Azerbaijan
• First trimester pregnancy
• Medical abortion
• Mifepristone
• Misoprostol

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was supported by an anonymous donor. We thank our local investigators in Azerbaijan, Drs Besti Muradova, Rena Bagirova, and Mehriban Huseynova for study implementation and Tatyana Lotarevich from Gynuity Health Projects, New York, for data support.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.