Use of medicine as abortifacients

Abstract

SUMMARY: In Sri Lanka, abortion is illegal except in cases where the mothers life is in danger. Therefore, many women resort to illegal methods of abortion, including over-the-counter purchase of drugs to use as abortifacients. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of use of medicines as abortifacients and to evaluate some aspects of this practice. All women who consulted the author at a private clinic requesting abortion between 1st September 1992 and 1st September 1993 were studied. Patients were interviewed using a questionnaire. Management consisted of counselling only and an abortion was not offered. Out of 201 women who requested abortion, 79(39.3%) had taken some from of drug as an abortifacient Of the women who had exposure to drugs four (5.1%) were notpregnant. Most (78.4%) of the prescriptions were given by qualified practitioners. Sixty eight(86.1%) were unaware or unable to name the drug they had been given. Sixty six (83.5%) belived that the drugs prescribed could act as abortifacients. The drugs were used at all stages of pregnancy, even upto 26 weeks of gestation, but most (84.8%) had used them before 12 weeks of gestation and only 7.6% used them at 16 weeks or later. The majority (64.6%) of women did not use any type of contraception at the cycle in which they got pregnant. Only 6 (7.6%) had used a reliable method of contraception. The hasty prescription of drugs to use as abortifacients will not allow time for counselling and jeopardise any chance of the women deciding to continue with the pregnancy. The use of drugs as abortifacients and their health consequences need further study in this country. But the only long-term solution to the problem of illegal abortion would be to introduce a safe, effective and inexpensive method of legal abortion.