We have located links that may give you full text access.
Abortion and fertility control in Pakistan: the role of misoprostol.
OBJECTIVE: To examine how availability of misoprostol has impacted women's abortion-seeking behaviour in Pakistan.
DESIGN: Focused ethnography.
SETTING: A facility providing reproductive health services, including induced abortions in Chakwal, a small town in Northern Punjab, Pakistan.
POPULATION: Women who came to the clinic seeking an abortion or who had had one in the last 6 months ( n =23) and all healthcare providers working in the facility ( n =14).
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews ( n =37), a focus group discussion ( n =1) and participant observation ( n =41). Latent content analysis was conducted drawing on principles of constant comparison to generate key themes in reported experiences.
RESULTS: All the respondents had sought an abortion to limit their fertility. Although some reported contraceptive use, improper use, undesirable side effects and restrictions on use had led to the unwanted pregnancy. All the women specifically requested misoprostol within days of their pregnancy, suggesting that they not only had knowledge of misoprostol as a backup in case of contraceptive failure, but may have pre-planned its use of in place of using contraception. Women reconciled their decision to undergo an abortion by describing it as a mistake, miscarriage or menstrual cycle issue.
CONCLUSIONS: Misoprostol's availability, ease of use and effectiveness have increased the role of abortion in fertility control.
DESIGN: Focused ethnography.
SETTING: A facility providing reproductive health services, including induced abortions in Chakwal, a small town in Northern Punjab, Pakistan.
POPULATION: Women who came to the clinic seeking an abortion or who had had one in the last 6 months ( n =23) and all healthcare providers working in the facility ( n =14).
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews ( n =37), a focus group discussion ( n =1) and participant observation ( n =41). Latent content analysis was conducted drawing on principles of constant comparison to generate key themes in reported experiences.
RESULTS: All the respondents had sought an abortion to limit their fertility. Although some reported contraceptive use, improper use, undesirable side effects and restrictions on use had led to the unwanted pregnancy. All the women specifically requested misoprostol within days of their pregnancy, suggesting that they not only had knowledge of misoprostol as a backup in case of contraceptive failure, but may have pre-planned its use of in place of using contraception. Women reconciled their decision to undergo an abortion by describing it as a mistake, miscarriage or menstrual cycle issue.
CONCLUSIONS: Misoprostol's availability, ease of use and effectiveness have increased the role of abortion in fertility control.
Full text links
Related Resources
Trending Papers
Challenges in Septic Shock: From New Hemodynamics to Blood Purification Therapies.Journal of Personalized Medicine 2024 Februrary 4
Molecular Targets of Novel Therapeutics for Diabetic Kidney Disease: A New Era of Nephroprotection.International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2024 April 4
The 'Ten Commandments' for the 2023 European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of endocarditis.European Heart Journal 2024 April 18
A Guide to the Use of Vasopressors and Inotropes for Patients in Shock.Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2024 April 14
Diagnosis and Management of Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.Circulation 2024 April 19
Essential thrombocythaemia: A contemporary approach with new drugs on the horizon.British Journal of Haematology 2024 April 9
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app