The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62832

Jennifer Blum, MPH¹, Selma Hajri, MD², Nahiba Gueddena, MD³, M Meddeb, MD⁴, M Halleb, MD³, and Beverly Winikoff, MD, MPH¹. (1) International Programs Division, Population Council, One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017, (2) Private Physician, 1 Rue de la Mosque, Tunis, Tunisia, 01121671748371, selmahajri@graffiti.net, (3) Office Nationale de la Famille et de la Population, 42 Avenue de Madrid, Tunis, Tunisia, (4) Office National de la Famille et de la Population, 42 Avenue de Madrid, Tunis, Tunisia

Medical abortion was approved for use in Tunisia in November 2000. Since September 2002, the method has been used in more than twenty family planning centers across the country. Previous clinical studies conducted in Tunisia have achieved high success rates, with nearly 95% of women successfully completing their medical abortions. At the request of local health authorities who were interested in learning if this method could be adapted for use in the country’s mobile clinic structure, we are conducting a small pilot study offering medical abortion to 80 women residing in rural areas surrounding Tunis and Nabuel. During our presentation, final results from the study will be shared. To our knowledge, this study is the first to offer medical abortion services in mobile clinic structures. Family planning nurses are the principal providers for women in these areas and, as such, provide all reproductive health care. Emergency back up care will be available at the nearest family planning center. We expect results from this study to provide information about the adaptability of medical abortion to new sectors of the health care system, such as mobile clinics; and to document the feasibility of provision of this method by mid-level providers, in this case nurses.

Learning Objectives:

• Name three ways that medical abortion services can be adapted for use in different levels of the health care service, such as mobile clinics.
• List four reasons why nurses can effectively provide medical abortion services.

Keywords: Abortion, Access and Services

Related Web page: www.popcouncil.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This study investigates the use of mifepristone for early medical abortion. The drugs used in the study were obtained from Danco Laboratories, in the United States.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.