Women's Perspectives on Medical Abortion in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru

A Qualitative Study

Bibliographic Data

ID3972433
AuthorsMaría Mercedes Lafaurie, María Mercedes Lafaurie Villamil (0000-0002-5993-740X, Population Council), Daniel Grossman (0000-0002-6878-6201, Population Council), Erika Troncoso, Deborah L Billings (0000-0002-8204-9822), Susana Chávez
Year2005
Volume13
Issue26
Pages75-83
Publication date2005-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/s0968-8080(05)26199-2
PMID16291488
OpenAlexW2117464475
LanguageEN
Citations received30
References cited18

In Latin America, where abortion is almost universally legally restricted, medical abortion, especially with misoprostol alone, is increasingly being used, often with the tablets obtained from a pharmacy. We carried out in-depth interviews with 49 women who had had a medical abortion under clinical supervision in rural and urban settings in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, who were recruited through clinicians providing abortions. The women often chose medical abortion to avoid a surgical abortion; they thought medical abortion was less painful, easier or simpler, safer or less risky. They commonly described it as a natural process of regulating their period. The fact that it was less expensive also influenced their decision. Some, who experienced a lot of pain, heavy bleeding or a failed procedure requiring surgical back-up, tended to be more negative about it. Regardless of legal restrictions, medical abortion was being provided safely in these settings and women found the method acceptable. Where feasible, it should be made available but cost should not have to be women's primary reason for choosing it. Psychosocial support during abortion is critical, especially for those who are more vulnerable because they see abortion as a sin, who are young or poor, who have limited knowledge about their bodies, whose partners are not supportive or who became pregnant through sexual violence

Abortion · Abortion law · Environmental health · Family medicine · Family planning · Latin Americans · Medical abortion · Misoprostol · Political science · Population · Pregnancy · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Research methodology · Sociology · Unsafe abortion · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Law · Medicine · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Reproductive Health and Technologies