Oral

This session addresses abortion trends from a clinician’s perspective in various US settings and Kenya. Women in rural communities face many obstacles when accessing needed care. The Abortion Access Project launched the Rural Abortion Provider Initiative to assess reproductive health care services in a rural setting. The panel then goes on to discuss how outpatient surgical miscarriage management is safe and training physicians and staff can greatly improve women’s health. A pilot study that looks at Misoprostol efficacy in reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in western Kenya is discussed. Closing the session is a look at how ultrasound provision in the context of abortion care varies greatly in different states. Some states are currently considering bills that would require abortion providers to perform ultrasounds while others do not require it.

Session Objectives: • Compare clinicians’ perspective of rural women’s access to abortion with other types of reproductive health services • Explain why outpatient surgical miscarriage management can be appropriate in family medicine settings • Discuss the results on Misoprostol efficacy from the KMET pilot project • Describe the variations in ultrasound provision and viewing practices in the abortion context

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)