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Immediate postabortal contraception with Norplant: levonorgestrel, gonadotropin, estradiol, and progesterone levels over two postabortal months and return of fertility after removal of Norplant capsules.

Six Silastic levonorgestrel-releasing capsules, Norplant, were introduced subcutaneously into the ventral aspect of the left forearm or upper arm of thirteen patients immediately after first trimester pregnancy termination. Blood samples were taken twice a week over two months after abortion and from one subject over one month after removal of Norplant capsules. Plasma concentrations of levonorgestrel were measured by radioimmunoassay and the effects of treatment on pituitary and ovarian function were determined by assaying plasma concentrations of LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone. If removal of Norplant capsules took place because of planning pregnancy, the subjects were asked to inform us if they had become pregnant. During the first month after abortion the mean levonorgestrel concentration (489 pg/ml) was statistically significantly higher than during the second month (237 pg/ml). The mean estradiol values fell to prefollicular levels within four days, remaining a little suppressed. The mean progesterone concentrations were below 2 ng/ml three days after abortion. Three subjects had a transient increase in plasma progesterone concentrations nine days after abortion. Thereafter no ovulatory progesterone concentrations were seen. The LH concentrations ranged within normal values of the follicular phase and FSH values were just beneath the lower limit of follicular phase FSH values, apart from a few peaks, indicating mild suppression. After removal of Norplant capsules, progesterone concentrations increased to ovulatory levels fifteen days after removal. The Norplant capsules were removed from two subjects because of planning pregnancy and they delivered healthy babies 9.5 and 12.5 months after removal.

Abortion, Induced↗

Comparing the quality of three models of postabortion care in public hospitals in Mexico City.

CONTEXT: Each year, an estimated 120,000 women in Mexico seek treatment in public hospitals for abortion-related complications--the country's fourth leading cause of maternal mortality. Models of postabortion care emphasizing counseling and provision of contraceptives have the potential to improve the quality of care these women receive. METHODS: Between April 1997 and August 1998, women treated for abortion complications in six Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) hospitals in the Mexico City metropolitan area were surveyed. Data related to patient-provider interaction, information provision and counseling were analyzed for three models of care: sharp curettage standard care, sharp curettage postabortion care and manual vacuum aspiration postabortion care. RESULTS: Women in the two postabortion care groups rated the quality of services they received more highly than did those receiving sharp curettage standard care. A significantly greater proportion of women treated under the postabortion care models than of those treated under the sharp curettage standard model received information about their health status before treatment, the uterine evacuation procedure, signs of postabortion complications and care at home. In addition, a greater proportion of women treated under the postabortion care models accepted a contraceptive method before leaving the facility (64-78% vs. 40%). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a postabortion care model contributes to the delivery of high-quality services to women experiencing abortion complications. The standard IMSS model of postabortion treatment should be modified to emulate those in hospitals that systematically link general counseling and family planning services to the clinical services provided to women with abortion complications.

Abortion, Induced↗

Evolution of the postabortion care program in Nepal: the contribution of a national Safe Motherhood Project.

The objective of this review is to present the findings and lessons learned over the first 4 years (1999-2002) of implementation of postabortion care (PAC) services outside of major urban centers in Nepal, where a significant proportion of services are provided by nurses. The contributions made by a national Safe Motherhood project to the establishment of the National Postabortion Care Program including the promotion of nurse providers within an integrated program of emergency obstetric care services are highlighted. Clinical competency assessments and service utilization data from three district hospital-based postabortion service sites supported by the Nepal Safer Motherhood Project are analyzed. The relationship between the findings of this assessment and two previous assessments, one covering two districts and one nationwide, are discussed. This review found that nurses are at least as competent as physicians in providing postabortion care services. The inclusion of postabortion care into the emergency treatment of obstetric complications provided the environment needed for successful introduction of nurse-led PAC services. Competency-based training of nurse providers is the key to making life-saving postabortion care services accessible and affordable in Nepal. Ensuring that these nurse providers are able to implement services requires strategic planning, careful advocacy and support from physician colleagues as well as the presence of adequate infrastructure and equipment. The successful introduction of postabortion care services into three district hospitals also offering emergency obstetric care provides an example of how a nurse-led service can be integrated into an emergency obstetric care support project. The project's learning has influenced national policy on the expansion of the postabortion care program throughout Nepal.

Abortion, Induced↗

The role of vaginal secretory immunoglobulin A, Gardnerella vaginalis, anaerobes, and Chlamydia trachomatis in postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease.

In a prospective study of 129 women undergoing induced first-trimester abortion, 14 (10.9%) contracted postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Samples of vaginal secretion for quantitation of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) as well as isolates from cervix/urethra for the culture of anaerobes and aerobes, including Bacteroides fragilis et melaninogenicus and Gardnerella vaginalis, were obtained at the preoperative visit. Two blood samples from each woman with postabortal PID were analysed for antibodies against G. vaginalis. Twenty-five per cent of women with a history of PID developed postabortal PID, and 25% with vaginitis contracted postabortal infection (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.005). Twenty-five per cent of women harboring C. trachomatis at the time of abortion developed infection. The presence of anaerobes or G. vaginalis was not associated with the frequency of postabortal PID (all p-values greater than 0.1). One woman with postabortal PID produced a culture positive for G. vaginalis and a rise in specific antibody titer. The levels of vaginal sIgA were not significantly associated with a positive history of PID (p greater than 0.6), with postabortal PID (p greater than 0.4) or with the presence of anaerobes or G. vaginalis at the time of abortion (p greater than 0.3). However, significantly elevated levels of sIgA were found in women harboring C. trachomatis (p less than 0.05). Thus, the study could not demonstrate any correlation between vaginal sIgA and PID, but increased sIgA in Chlamydia-positive women. A history of PID and vaginitis entailed a significant risk of contracting postabortal PID.

Abortion, Induced↗

Where do rural women obtain postabortion care? The case of Uttar Pradesh, India.

CONTEXT: Although Indian law permits abortion for a broad range of social and medical indications, millions of unsafe and illegal abortions and countless subsequent complications occur annually. Nonetheless, in the central Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, few women with abortion complications are reported to seek care at registered private and public health facilities. Information is needed about where rural women seek care for abortion complications and about the quality of care they receive. METHODS: Qualitative data were collected in 1999 in four villages in rural Uttar Pradesh. The study team conducted community mapping exercises, focus group discussions with female and male community members, and in-depth interviews with women of reproductive age and with postabortion care providers. RESULTS: Postabortion care is widely available in the villages studied, largely from untrained or inappropriately trained providers. Because village-level providers are the front line of care for many women, abortion complications may be exacerbated rather than alleviated, appropriate care delayed and the cost of treatment increased. Village-level postabortion care does not include family planning and contraceptive counseling services or links to reproductive and other health services. CONCLUSIONS: : Existing village-level postabortion care services are inadequate. There is an urgent need to increase women's access to higher-quality postabortion care. This can be done by simultaneously engaging village-level providers in the formal system of postabortion care service delivery, as appropriate, and addressing the prevailing social and cultural mores that discourage women with abortion complications from seeking higher-level care.

Abortion, Legal↗

Postabortion psychological adjustment: are minors at increased risk?

PURPOSE: To assess whether younger adolescents experience greater adverse psychological outcomes after abortion than those aged 18-21 years, whether abortion places all adolescents at risk for negative sequelae, and what factors predict negative outcomes. METHODS: A total of 96 young women aged 14-21 years seeking counseling for unwanted pregnancies at four clinics completed questionnaires after counseling. These included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), an emotion scale, questions regarding sociodemographic and reproductive background, feelings about pregnancy, and decision-making. Sixty-three respondents were reinterviewed 4 weeks postabortion and completed the BDI, emotion scale, Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, Impact of Events Scale, and Positive States of Mind Scale. Chi-squares and Student's t-tests were used to compare: (a) responses of adolescents under 18 years of age with those 18-21 years, (b) preabortion and postabortion responses, and (c) the current sample with other samples of adolescents. RESULTS: Adolescents under age 18 years were less comfortable with their decision, but showed no other differences compared with those aged 18-21 years. Both groups showed significant improvement in psychological responses postabortion. Postabortion scores did not differ significantly from those of other adolescent samples reported in the literature. Preabortion emotional state and perception of partner pressure predicted postabortion response. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its legal significance, age 18 years was not a meaningful cutoff point for psychological response to abortion in this sample. There was no evidence that abortion poses a threat to adolescents' psychological well-being.

Abortion, Legal↗

Midwives and postabortion care: experiences, opinions, and attitudes among participants at the 25th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives.

Midwifery practice may not include caring for women experiencing complications from unsafe abortion, despite the importance of this care for the health and lives of millions of women around the world. This article summarizes data collected from midwives from 41 countries who attended the 25th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives in 1999, focusing on their experiences with, and attitudes toward, the provision of postabortion care. Barriers to provision of postabortion care and factors for changes in postabortion care-related policies were explored. Midwives from developing countries, where complications from unsafe abortion present a serious public health problem, were cognizant of the need to authorize, train, and equip midwives in postabortion care, including the use of uterine evacuation of incomplete abortion with manual vacuum aspiration. Changes in policy and practice are needed throughout the world so that women will have access to quality, compassionate postabortion care services regardless of where they live. Ensuring that midwives are able to provide such services will help to reduce abortion-related morbidity and mortality.

Abortion, Induced↗

Improving the medical care and counseling of postabortion patients in Egypt.

This report analyzes the results of an operations research project carried out at two sites in Egypt to improve the medical care and counseling of postabortion patients. Preintervention and postintervention surveys and observations were conducted. After the introduction of vacuum aspiration under local anesthesia, the number of cases treated with dilatation and curettage under general anesthesia dropped from an average of 169 per month to 16. The majority of the remaining cases (an average of 119 per month) were treated with vacuum aspiration. Both providers' and women's knowledge about postabortion complications improved. Family planning information provided to postabortion patients increased as a result of the project's training program. The proportion of patients intending to use a contraceptive method increased by 30 percentage points due to the improved counseling. Future programs linking family planning and postabortion medical services should be prepared to improve the medical care of existing emergency health services and to add counseling services.

Abortion, Illegal↗

Sequelae of induced first-trimester abortion. A prospective study assessing the role of postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease and prophylactic antibiotics.

A follow-up study was undertaken in 493 women who had participated in a clinical, controlled trial with the object of assessing the role of postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease and prophylactic antibiotics in the development of sequelae. Information about dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, births, induced and spontaneous abortions, and ectopic pregnancies were obtained from 382 of the women and from 38 of 40 women who had contracted postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease during the previous study. Significantly elevated rates in women with postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease compared with women without this disease were found for spontaneous abortion (22% versus 5%, p less than 0.0005), secondary infertility (10% versus 2%, p less than 0.05), dyspareunia (20% versus 5%, p less than 0.005), and chronic pelvic pain (14% versus 2%, p less than 0.001). Nonsignificant differences were observed for ectopic pregnancy and dysmenorrhea. A new episode of pelvic inflammatory disease within the first year after abortion was observed more often in women with postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease than in women without infection (41% versus 5%, p less than 0.0001). Prophylactic antibiotics decreased the rates of spontaneous abortion and dyspareunia (p less than 0.05 in both instances).

Abortion, Induced↗

Scaling up postabortion contraceptive service--results from a study conducted among women having unwanted pregnancies in urban and rural Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION: It is well recognized that unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion are significant public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa. At the International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994, postabortion care was prioritized as a means to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality associated with unsafe abortion. However, only a few postabortion care programs have been implemented and most of them have been confined to urban settings. The present study describes the magnitude of the problem of unwanted pregnancies among women with incomplete abortion in urban and rural Tanzania and evaluates the outcome of a postabortion care intervention. METHODS: Data were collected among 781 women admitted with incomplete abortion in Dar es Salaam region (urban Tanzania) and 575 women in Kagera region (rural Tanzania). RESULTS: Sixty-seven percent of the women in urban Tanzania and 42% in rural Tanzania stated that their pregnancy was unwanted. Contraceptive acceptance among women with unwanted pregnancies was high; 93% in urban Tanzania and 71% in rural Tanzania left with a contraceptive method. CONCLUSION: The high proportion of women with unwanted pregnancies in urban and rural Tanzania underlines the need of scaling up postabortion contraceptive service.

Abortion, Illegal↗

Significance of cervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection in postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease.

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the cervix uteri and its possible association with postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) were investigated in women subjected to first-trimester-induced abortion. None of the women had signs or symptoms of genital infection at the time of abortion. Chlamydia organisms were isolated from the cervix/urethra in 33 (10%) of 333 women. Women with a positive Chlamydia culture were comparable to women with a negative culture in regard to gestational age at the time of abortion. However, Chlamydia-positive women were significantly younger and had gonorrhea more often than Chlamydia-negative women. Two hundred seventy (81%) of the women were followed up 1 month after the abortion. Thirty-two of these developed postabortal PID. Eight (28%) of 29 women with a positive Chlamydia culture and 24 (10%) of 241 women with a negative culture developed postabortal PID. This difference is significant (P less than .025) and indicates that the presence of Chlamydia in the cervical canal at the time of abortion in asymptomatic women increases the risk of postabortal PID.

Abortion, Induced↗

Postabortion insertions of the pleated membrane.

The pleated or intrauterine membrane (IUM) was designed to fit a range of uterine sizes and shapes and to adjust to transient changes resulting from uterine motility. The retention and contraceptive abilities of postabortion IUM insertions are analyzed in this study of 154 IUM insertions made within 3 days of treatment for an incomplete or inevitable abortion. Results indicate low 1-year net cumulative event rates for pregnancy (1.7 per 100 users), expulsion (7.2 per 100 users), and removal for bleeding and/or pain (3.9 per 100 users). These rates were similar to those reported in a study of interval insertions of the IUM; moreover, these results also compared favorably with corresponding rates of postabortion insertions reported in studies using other devices. Thus, the postabortion period is indicated as being an effective time for IUM insertion.

Abortion, Induced↗

A comparison of the clip and ring techniques for laparoscopic sterilization of postabortion and postpartum patients.

The spring-loaded clip and the tubal ring techniques of laparoscopic female sterilization are compared for ease of performance, safety and effectiveness at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital in Singapore. The two techniques were randomly assigned to 299 postpartum patients and 300 postabortion patients. The assigned procedure could not be performed for two of the ring cases and three of the clip cases. Bleeding and equipment problems made laparotomy necessary in two clip cases and equipment problems caused a change in technique in the other clip case. Hydrosalpinx and adhesions were responsible for a change to laparotomy in the two ring cases. Surgical difficulties, chiefly the result of equipment problems, were significantly higher for both postpartum and postabortion clip procedures. Complications and complaints reported immediately after surgery and at the 7- to 21-day follow-up visit were low for all four groups. For both postabortion and postpartum patients, six- and 12-month data show that pregnancy rates are significantly higher for patients sterilized with the clip than with tubal rings.

Abortion, Induced↗

Detailed analysis of menstrual bleeding patterns after postmenstrual and postabortal insertion of a copper IUD or a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.

Detailed information on the menstrual bleeding patterns in users of copper-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs) and levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems (IUSs) is lacking. Even less is known about the menstrual bleeding patterns associated with postabortal insertion of IUDs. We postulated that the scarcity of IUD studies including detailed analysis of bleeding could be a result of the lack of an easy-to-use computer program designed for this purpose. We therefore developed a set of graphical user interface (Windows) programs for entering, editing, and analyzing menstrual diary data. With these programs, we reanalyzed the menstrual diaries of the subjects of one of the hospital clinics that participated in a previous multicenter study comparing copper IUDs and LNg IUSs. The group included patients who had the IUD inserted postabortally. Copper IUD users had patterns of bleeding that were stable over time, and clearly more bleeding than LNg IUS users, many of whom had either infrequent bleeding, bleeding completely replaced by regularly occurring spotting, or amenorrhea. Postabortal insertion of LNg IUSs was associated with slightly better patterns of bleeding than postmenstrual insertion. Detailed statistics on bleeding help clinicians in counseling patients regarding these methods. The statistics permit assumptions to be made about the probabilities of specific menstrual disturbances and their changes over time.

Abortion, Induced↗

Reducing unplanned pregnancy and abortion in Zimbabwe through postabortion contraception.

In many countries, women treated for complications from spontaneous or unsafely induced abortion lack access to contraceptive services. As a result, many of them soon have a subsequent unplanned pregnancy or a repeat abortion, placing their health at increased risk. This report presents the results of a prospective intervention study on postabortion family planning conducted in the two largest public hospitals in Zimbabwe. Women at Harare Central Hospital, in the capital, received a postabortion family planning intervention, and Mpilo Central Hospital, in Bulawayo, served as the control site. The study cohort was 982 women, 527 of whom were followed for a 12-month period. During the follow-up period, significantly more women used highly effective methods of contraception, significantly fewer unplanned pregnancies occurred, and fewer repeat abortions were performed at the intervention site than at the control site. These results offer compelling evidence that ward-based contraceptive services provided to women treated for incomplete abortion can significantly reduce subsequent unplanned pregnancies. The results also suggest that postabortion family planning services can reduce the incidence of repeat abortion.

Abortion, Induced↗

Unsafe abortion in Tanzania and the need for involving men in postabortion contraceptive counseling.

Targeting male partners involved in unsafe abortions for contraceptive counseling could be an important strategy for decreasing the incidence of unwanted pregnancies, yet few postabortion-care programs have attempted to involve these men. To assess the need for and determine the content of postabortion contraceptive counseling for men, this study examined the contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practices of male partners of women who have had an unsafe abortion. A survey was administered to 213 men accompanying female partners receiving hospital care after having undergone an unsafe abortion in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and 20 of these men participated in in-depth interviews. Sixteen percent of the men surveyed accompanied an extramarital partner, and of those, only 44 percent reported having practiced contraception in the last six months, compared with 81 percent of the men accompanying their wives and 83 percent accompanying their girlfriends. In general, the men wished to support their partners in practicing contraception, and the majority were willing to participate in contraceptive counseling. These findings suggest that male partners should be included in postabortion contraceptive counseling, which should be sensitive to the nature of the partners' relationship, the risk of HIV transmission, and the importance of promoting gender

Abortion, Induced↗

The influence of cervical dilatation by laminaria tent and with Hegar dilators on the intrauterine microflora and the rate of postabortal pelvic inflammatory disease.

In a prospective study, 519 women were randomly selected for cervical dilatation by laminaria tents or Hegar dilators before scheduled vacuum aspiration. In other 68 women randomly divided into a laminaria group and a control (Hegar) group, placenta, decidua and blood were separately aspirated from the uterine cavity before the vacuum aspiration and cultured for micro-organisms. The rate of postabortal inflammatory disease (PID) was significantly lower after pretreatment with laminaria tent irrespective of patient's age and parity. However, a higher risk of postabortal PID was found in gestational age of 10-12 weeks than of 5-9 weeks. Previous PID and abortion did not increase the risk of postabortal PID. Vaginal/cervical micro-organisms were, irrespective of method for cervical dilatation, identified in two thirds of the patients.

Abortion, Induced↗

Postabortal endometritis and isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis.

A prospective study of 505 unselected women presenting for induced abortion was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and to determine if cervical isolation of C trachomatis before abortion increases the risk of postabortal endometritis. A comparison of direct fluorescent antibody (slide) test with tissue culture for diagnosing C trachomatis infection also was evaluated in this population. C trachomatis was identified by culture in 89 patients (17.6%) and by direct slide test in 85 patients (16.8%). Six of 17 patients with postabortal endometritis were culture positive for C trachomatis, with a significant correlation between C trachomatis infection and development of endometritis observed (P less than .05). These data suggest C trachomatis may play an important role in postabortal endometritis.

Abortion, Induced↗