ArticleReproductive health2023
Availability of medical abortion medicines in eight countries: a descriptive analysis of key findings and opportunities.
Article in Reproductive health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Transvaginal ultrasonographic characteristics of different types of residual pregnancy tissue in patients with incomplete medication abortion.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2026Article
- Self-managed medical abortion in Nigeria: a prospective, comparative study of clinical outcomes for a misoprostol-alone regimen obtained from patent medicine vendors compared to clinics.Reproductive health · 2026Article
- A descriptive summary of the WHO availability assessments of medical abortion medicines in eight African countries.Reproductive health · 2024Article
- Strengthening regional commitment to ensuring access to medical abortion medicines in WHO's South-East Asia region: report of a participatory assessment and workshop.Reproductive health · 2024Article
- Close female friendships and knowledge of recommended abortion methods in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo among a representative sample of reproductive-aged women.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2024Article
- "I wasn't sure it would work. I was just trying": an ethnographic study on the choice of abortion methods among young women in Kilifi County, Kenya, and Atlantique Department, Benin.Reproductive health · 2023Article
- Correction: Availability of medical abortion medicines in eight countries: a descriptive analysis of key findings and opportunities.Reproductive health · 2023Article
- Examining factors associated with post-abortion family planning among women in refugee settings in Uganda.Women's health (London, England)Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
24 authors at 10 institutions in 8 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn recent years a growing number of manufacturers and medical abortion products have entered country markets and health systems, with varying degrees of quality and accessibility. An interplay of factors including pharmaceutical regulations, abortion laws, government policies and service delivery guidelines and provider's knowledge and practices influence the availability of medical abortion medicines. We assessed the availability of medical abortion in eight countries to increase understanding among policymakers of the need to improve availability and affordability of quality-assured medical abortion products at regional and national levels.
methodsUsing a national assessment protocol and an availability framework, we assessed the availability of medical abortion medicines in Bangladesh, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and South Africa between September 2019 and January 2020.
resultsRegistration of abortion medicines-misoprostol or a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol-was established in all countries assessed, except Rwanda. Mifepristone and misoprostol regimen for medical abortion was identified on the national essential medicines list/standard treatment guidelines for South Africa as well as in specific abortion care service and delivery guidelines for Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, and Rwanda. In Liberia, Malawi, and Sierra Leone-countries with highly restrictive abortion laws and no abortion service delivery guidelines or training curricula-no government-supported training on medical abortion for public sector providers had occurred. Instead, training on medical abortion was either limited in scope to select private sector providers and pharmacists or prohibited. Community awareness activities on medical abortion have been limited in scope across the countries assessed and where abortion is broadly legal, most women do not know that it is an option.
conclusionUnderstanding the factors that influence the availability of medical abortion medicines is important to support policymakers improve availability of these medicines. The landscape assessments documented that medical abortion commodities can be uniquely impacted by the laws, policies, values, and degree of restrictions placed on service delivery programs. Results of the assessments can guide actions to improve access.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.