Women's satisfaction with medical termination
Maaita, M.E.; Prasarman, C.; Smith, J.; Neale, E.J.
British Journal of Family Planning 25(1): 9-11
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0144-8625 PMID: 10228242 Document Number: 511652
Women's satisfaction with medical abortion was assessed in a survey of 100 women 14-43 years of age (mean age, 24.6 years) who undergone this procedure at Bedford Hospital (UK). 45 women had not heard of medical abortion before presentation to the hospital. 30 women stated they were not given a choice between medical and surgical abortion. 85 women had already had at least 1 prior pregnancy termination and 30 reported 2 or more prior procedures. Women were given 200 mg of oral mifepristone and returned to the gynecology ward 48 hours later for a 1 mg gemeprost vaginal pessary. A satisfaction questionnaire was distributed before discharge. Women used a visual analogue scale with scores from 0 to 10 to assess staff helpfulness, the appropriateness of the information they received, and overall satisfaction. The amount of bleeding was deemed heavy by 51 women and acceptable by another 42 women. 70 women did not require pain killers. The mean score for overall satisfaction was 8.19 out of a possible 10. When women with a previous surgical abortion were asked to compare it with the medical procedure, the mean value was 7.63, favoring the medical option. Satisfaction with the staff and the informational leaflet was high. The greatest dissatisfaction centered around the adequacy of the counseling women received. The high rate of repeat abortion indicates a need for improved contraceptive counseling before and after pregnancy termination.