Self-administered medical abortion pills: evaluation of the clinical outcome and complications among women presenting with unsupervised pill intake to a tertiary care hospital: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: In India, it is becoming a public health problem due to easy over-the-counter abortion pill availability despite the legal ban, widespread misuse by non-allopath doctors, dais and quacks, and ignorance on part of women. The pills are being dispensed blindly without proper medical evaluation and even without ruling out the contraindications. In India, abortion facility is available legally under the MTP act, 1971.Methods: Its cross-section study including 81 patients presenting to outpatients and emergency department of obstetrics and Gynecology, in RL Jalapa Hospital and Research Centre affiliated to Sri Deva Raj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar between December 2020 and February 2021, a study conducted among women with a history of unsupervised pills abortion pill intake.Results: In the study 35% were in the age group 19 to 20 years, 45% were in the age group 21 to 25 years and 20% were in the age group 26 to 30 years. 55% were from joint family and 45% were from nuclear family, 76.2% were multigravida and 23.8% were primigravida.Conclusions: This study shows strict legislation and restriction required the sale of abortion pills for public use. The drug should be available only via health care facilities under the super version during an abortion. Creating awareness regarding contraception and effective method to fulfil the unmet need for contraception will be useful avoid the harmful practice of self-administered abortion pills and reducing maternal mortality.