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The acceptability of home medical abortion to women in UK settings
Author(s) -
Hamoda Haitham,
Critchley Hilary O.D.,
Paterson Kate,
Guthrie Kate,
Rodger Mary,
Penney Gillian C.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00538.x
Subject(s) - medicine , abortion , misoprostol , medical abortion , family medicine , vacuum aspiration , family planning , obstetrics , gynecology , pregnancy , population , research methodology , genetics , environmental health , biology
Objective To assess the acceptability of home medical abortion to women in UK settings. Design Questionnaire survey. Setting Four NHS gynaecology units in England and Scotland. Subjects Women undergoing conventional, hospital‐based, medical abortion up to nine weeks of gestation. Methods A self‐complete questionnaire explored the acceptability of abortion in hospital (including pain and bleeding experienced) and at home. Comparisons were made between centres (English and Scottish). Main outcome measure Women's views on home administration of misoprostol for medical abortion; perceived acceptability and perceived ability to cope with the process at home. Results Sixty‐six percent (366/553) of the questionnaires were returned: Edinburgh, 204 (56%); London, 92 (25%); Hull, 43 (12%); and Glasgow, 27 (7%). Individual questionnaire items were answered by varying numbers of women: 228/320 (71%; 95% CI: 66–76%) said there was nothing that happened during abortion in the hospital that they would have been unable to cope with at home; 123/342 (36%; 95% CI: 31–41%) said they would have opted to have home abortion, had that choice been available. However, 219/342 (64%; 95% CI: 59–69%) indicated that they would prefer to have abortion in the hospital. The majority of women said they would have coped at home with bleeding (280/355, 79%; 95% CI: 74–83%) and with pain if given analgesia (203/268, 76%; 95% CI: 70–81%). Conclusion This study suggests that most women would welcome being offered the choice of having medical abortion at home or in hospital. The development of home abortion must be seen as complementary, not an alternative, to hospital services.