ArticlePloS one2021
Comparison of surgical versus medical termination of pregnancy between 13-20 weeks of gestation in Ethiopia: A quasi-experimental study.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Second-Trimester Uterine Rupture in an Unscarred Uterus Following Self-Administered Misoprostol: A Case Report and Literature Review.Clinical medicine insights. Case reports · 2026Article
- Complications Following Late Second-Trimester Dilatation and Evacuation: A Retrospective Cohort Comparison of Missed and Induced Abortions.International journal of women's health · 2026Article
- Risk Factors for Failure of Second-Trimester Termination with Misoprostol as a Single Agent.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Dilation and evacuation versus medication abortion at 15-24 weeks of gestation in low-middle income country: A retrospective cohort study.Contraception: X · 2024Article
- Effect of oral mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol for early abortion among Indian women.Bioinformation · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDilation and evacuation is a method of second trimester pregnancy termination introduced recently in Ethiopia. However, little is known about the safety and effectiveness of this method in an Ethiopian setting. Therefore, the study is intended to determine the safety and effectiveness of dilation and evacuation for surgical abortion as compared to medical abortion between 13-20 weeks' gestational age.
methodsThis is a quasi-experimental study of women receiving second trimester termination of pregnancy between 13-20 weeks. Patients were allocated to either medical or surgical abortion based on their preference. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and clinical data upon admission. Procedure related information was collected after the procedure was completed and before the patient was discharged. Additionally, women were contacted 2 weeks after the procedure to evaluate for post-procedural complications. The primary outcome of the study was a composite complication rate. Data were collected using Open Data Kit and then analyzed using Stata version 14.2. Univariate analyses were performed using means (standard deviation), or medians (interquartile range) when the distribution was not normal. Multiple logistic regression was also performed to control for confounders.
resultsTwo hundred nineteen women chose medical abortion and 60 chose surgical abortion. The composite complication rate is not significantly different among medical and surgical abortion patients (15% versus 10%; p = 0.52). Nine patients (4.1%) in the medical arm required additional intervention to complete the abortion, while none of the surgical abortion patients required additional intervention. Median (IQR) hospital stay was significantly longer in the medical group at 24 (12-24) hours versus 6(4-6) hours in the surgical group p<0.001.
conclusionFrom the current study findings, we concluded that there is no difference in safety between surgical and medical methods of abortion. This study demonstrates that surgical abortion can be used as a safe and effective alternative to medical abortion and should be offered equivalently with medical abortion, per the patient's preference.
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