Women’s experiences using drugs to induce abortion acquired in the informal sector in Colombia: qualitative interviews with users in Bogotá and the Coffee Axis

Figures & data

Table 1. Description of sample, Colombia 2018

	Overall N = 47 % (n)	Drug stores N = 21 % (n)	Online sellers N = 16 % (n)	Other* N = 10 % (n)
Location
Bogotá	57% (27)	42% (9)	75% (12)	60% (6)
Coffee Axis	42% (20)	57% (12)	25% (4)	40% (4)
Age
18–19	4% (2)	5% (1)	0	10% (1)
20–24	40% (19)	48% (10)	50% (8)	10% (1)
25–29	32% (15)	29% (6)	31% (5)	40% (4)
30–34	13% (6)	10% (2)	13% (2)	20% (2)
35+	11% (5)	10% (2)	6% (1)	20% (2)
Relationship Status
Never married/Not currently cohabitating	55% (26)	52% (11)	63% (10)	50% (5)
Cohabiting	21% (10)	24% (5)	25% (4)	10% (1)
Separated/Divorced	23% (11)	24% (5)	13% (2)	40% (4)
Education
Less than secondary school	15% (7)	29% (6)	6% (1)	0
Secondary school	21% (10)	24% (5)	19% (3)	20% (2)
Technical school (incomplete/complete)	32% (15)	33% (7)	19% (3)	50% (5)
College (incomplete/complete)	30% (14)	14% (3)	50% (8)	30% (3)
Graduate	2% (1)	0	6% (1)	0
Occupation^†
Unemployed	13% (6)	10% (2)	19% (3)	10% (1)
Housewife	19% (9)	15% (3)	19% (3)	30% (3)
Student	15% (7)	19% (4)	6% (1)	20% (2)
Works outside home	68% (32)	30% (14)	69% (11)	70% (7)
Number of previous births
0	43% (20)	38% (8)	56% (9)	30% (3)
1	32% (15)	29% (6)	31% (5)	40% (4)
2	26% (12)	33% (7)	13% (2)	30% (3)

*  Includes street vendors or contacts in their social network.

^†  Percentages in this section do not add up to 100% because respondents could provide multiple answers.

Table 2. Characteristics of abortion experience, Colombia 2018

	Overall N = 47 % (n)	Drug stores N = 21 % (n)	Online sellers N = 16 % (n)	Other^a N = 10 % (n)
Purchaser of medication
Respondent	81% (38)	100% (21)	100% (16)	10% (1)
Intermediary	19% (9)	0	0	90% (9)
Number of pills received^b
2–3	9% (4)	10% (2)	6% (1)	10% (1)
4–6	72% (34)	67% (14)	75% (12)	80% (8)
8–10	19% (9)	24% (5)	19% (3)	10% (1)
Other medications received^c
Injections	28% (13)	52% (10)	0	10% (1)
Pain killers/antibiotics/iron supplements	15% (7)	14% (3)	13% (2)	20% (2)
Herbs	9% (4)	10% (2)	0	20% (2)
Mifepristone	2% (1)	0	6% (1)	0
None	64% (30)	52% (11)	81% (13)	70% (7)
Minimum essential information provided^d
All information	0	0	0	0
Some information	87% (41)	81% (17)	94% (15)	90% (9)
No information^e	13% (6)	19% (4)	6% (1)	10% (1)
# of attempts to induce this abortion^f
1	72% (34)	62% (13)	81% (13)	80% (8)
2 or more	28% (13)	38% (8)	19% (3)	20% (2)
Physical effects experienced by respondents^c
Cramping	79% (37)	71% (15)	88% (14)	80% (8)
Bleeding	62% (29)	52% (11)	69% (11)	70% (7)
Nausea/vomiting	47% (22)	48% (10)	38% (6)	60% (6)
Fever/Shivers	36% (17)	10% (2)	50% (8)	70% (7)
Clots	32% (15)	14% (3)	44% (7)	50% (5)
Diarrhoea	30% (14)	29% (6)	25% (4)	40% (4)
Dizziness	15% (7)	19% (4)	13% (2)	10% (1)
Other physical effects^c,g	26% (12)	19% (4)	19% (3)	50% (5)
Abortion outcome
Not completed before arriving at facility	81% (38)	81% (17)	69% (11)	100% (10)
Completed before arriving at facility	19% (9)	19% (4)	31% (5)	0

^a  Includes street vendors or contacts in their social network.

 ^b  Number of pills provided in first attempt to induce an abortion.

 ^c  Respondents could provide multiple answers.

 ^d  Essential information includes physical symptoms (bleeding, cramping, diarrhoea, and nausea/vomiting) and complications (heavy bleeding/haemorrhage, fever/shivers and intense bleeding).

 ^e  Four of the women reported that they only received vague information about how the medication would make them feel, but were not advised on specific physical effects.

 ^f  Attempts prior to visiting the abortion clinic.

 ^g  Includes sweating, weakness, headache, other pain, and numbness.

Figure 1. Alluvial flow diagram representing women’s experiences taking misoprostol acquired in the informal sector, Colombia 2018