abortion

Question 1

approximately how many abortions occur each year?

Answer 1

56 million abortions
- 88% in developing countries
- 12% in developed countries

Question 2

how many abortions per year occur in settings where abortion is prohibited or legally restricted?

Answer 2

25 million

Question 3

what percent of unsafe abortions take place in in developing countries?

Answer 3

97%

Question 4

Unsafe abortions contribute to what percent of all pregnancy related deaths?

Answer 4

8-18%

Question 5

how many women are treated for complications from abortion each year?

Answer 5

6.9 million

Question 6

what percent of women who experience abortion complications never seek treatment?

Answer 6

40%

Question 7

Worldwide, the lifetime average is how many abortions per women?

Answer 7

one abortion per women

Question 8

What are the most common reasons women give for having an abortion?

Answer 8

• completed childbearing
• More spaces between births
• Too young, too old
• Insecure relationship (s)
• Work, school
• Rape, incest
• Fetal anomalies
• Health, co-morbidities

Question 9

The vast majority of abortions worldwide take place in what trimester?

Answer 9

first

Question 10

The earlier the abortion the what?

Answer 10

the safer

Question 11

Methods of first trimester abortion?

Answer 11

• Aspiration abortion: manual vacuum aspiration, electric vacuum aspiration
• Medication abortion: mifepristone/misoprostol, methotrexate/misoprostol, misoprostol - alone

Question 12

Types of aspiration abortion?

Answer 12

• manual vacuum aspiration
• Electric vacuum aspiration

Question 13

Aspiration abortion procedure?

Answer 13

• Cannula is inserted into the uterus
• Uterine contents are emptied through suction

Question 14

Aspiration abortion can be used through what trimester

Answer 14

First

Question 15

Is aspiration abortion effective?

Answer 15

yes, 99% effective

Question 16

Aspiration abortion is safer than what?

Answer 16

sharp curettage

Question 17

What is medication abortion?

Answer 17

Medication abortion refers to a family of drugs, used alone or in combination to induce abortion in early pregnancy

Question 18

Mifepristone/ misoprostol

Answer 18

• used to terminate pregnancies up to 63 days gestation (9 weeks)
• 98% of women will have a successful abortion when using mife/miso within 63 days gestation
• highly acceptable to women

Question 19

mifepristone in Canada?

Answer 19

• health Canada approved mifepristone/misoprostol regimen in July 2015
• introduced in 2017

Question 20

Methotrexate/misoprostol

Answer 20

• alternative to mife/miso regimen with similar efficacy though 49 days
  -abortion process takes much longer
• Effective treatment for ectopic pregnancies
• Similar eligibility contraindications, side effects profile, and complication rate
• associated with fetal malformations if given during pregnancy

Question 21

Misoprostol alone?

Answer 21

• optimal protocols for use: through 9 weeks LMP
• Approximately 75%-85% effective in terminating early pregnancy

Question 22

Strategies for reducing harm from unsafe abortion: misoprostol

Answer 22

• call centers and text messages
• Women on web and Women help Women
• community based distribution
• Working with traditional birth attendants