Mifepristone medical abortion in Albania: Results from a pilot clinical research study

Abstract

A reduced dose mifepristone medical abortion regimen with home administration of misoprostol is feasible for introduction into healthcare facilities in Albania.

Comparative effectiveness, safety and acceptability of medical abortion at home and in a clinic: a systematic review

“…The ORs for complete abortion at home versus in a clinic showed no difference in effectiveness in five studies. 9,24,25,28,29 In three studies (two French, 26,31 one Vietnamese) 30 medical abortion in clinic settings was found to be more effective, while in the study conducted in both Tunisia and Viet Nam abortion at home proved more effective (OR: 2.9; 95% CI:…”

“…24 The average success rate in this group was 89.7% (95% CI: 88.7-90.7%) ( Table 2). Among the 1044 women who took misoprostol in clinic, the success rate ranged from 80% in Turkey 9 to 99% in France.…”

“…24 Pooled analysis of the mean number of days of pain from three studies indicated that pain lasted 0.3 days longer in women who took misoprostol at home (n = 1761) than in those who took misoprostol in clinic (n = 297) (weighted mean difference, WMD: 0.3 days; 95% CI: 0.1-0.5). 9,24,30 Vomiting was reported by 12-34% of women 24,29 and lasted 0.3 days longer in women who took misoprostol at home (n = 1761) than in women who took misoprostol in clinic (n = 297) (WMD: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.1-0.5). Fever also lasted longer in the former (n = 2058) than in the latter (WMD: 0.3 days; 95% CI: 0-0.6).…”

“…31 Six studies required that participants live or work within 1 hour of the study site. 24,26,27,[29][30][31] In the French studies, women who lived farther than 1 hour away from the referral hospital were ineligible for the home-based protocol but were included in the study.…”

“…26 All studies used misoprostol 400 µg, given as two tablets of 200 µg where specified. 9,24,26,28,30 In all studies, women were given mifepristone at the clinic but could choose between taking misoprostol at home or returning to take it at the clinic. All protocols detailed the use of painkillers (paracetamol, codeine or ibuprofen), which women were advised to take as needed.…”