This survey was undertaken to obtain women’s opinions about their home management of EMA with mifepristone and misoprostol. All eligible women undergoing EMA at any BPAS clinic during two weeks were invited to participate. Women were contacted by telephone one week after the EMA, and a five-item structured questionnaire was administered. One open-ended question allowed women to comment freely. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the influence of demographic characteristics on reactions.
Researchers enrolled Two hundred forty-nine participants; 162 were successfully surveyed. Most respondents would instead go home to complete an EMA than remain in a clinical setting. The majority found home management very or somewhat acceptable. Most respondents would prefer home use of misoprostol instead of returning to the clinic to obtain and use the medication. Women were less likely to choose home management if they were Asian.
The study concluded that EMA’s home management is acceptable to most women in the UK who have experienced it and is, for many, preferable to a clinical setting. Consideration should be given to updating the interpretation of the UK’s 1967 Abortion Act to allow home administration of misoprostol.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/36/1/21
