Availability of medical abortion medicines in eight countries: a descriptive analysis of key findings and opportunities

作者：Amy Grossman, Ndola Prata, Natalie Williams, Bela Ganatra, Antonella Lavelanet, Laurence Läser, Chilanga Asmani, Hayfa Elamin, Leopold Ouédraogo, Md Mahmudur Rahman, Musu Julie Conneh-Duworko, Bentoe Zoogley Tehoungue, Harriet Chanza, Henry Phiri, Bharat Raj Bhattarai, Narayan Prasad Dhakal, Olumuyiwa Ojo, Kayode Afolabi, Theopista John Kabuteni, Binyam Getachew Hailu, Francis Moses, Sithembile Dlamini‐Nqeketo, Thembi Zulu, Ulrika Rehnström Loi · 发表于：Reproductive Health · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1186/s12978-023-01574-3 · 被引用次数：16 · 研究领域：Reproductive Health and Contraception、Pharmaceutical Quality and Counterfeiting、Global Maternal and Child Health

BACKGROUND: In recent years a growing number of manufacturers and medical abortion products have entered country markets and health systems, with varying degrees of quality and accessibility. An interplay of factors including pharmaceutical regulations, abortion laws, government policies and service delivery guidelines and provider's knowledge and practices influence the availability of medical abortion medicines. We assessed the availability of medical abortion in eight countries to increase understanding among policymakers of the need to improve availability and affordability of quality-assured medical abortion products at regional and national levels. METHODS: Using a national assessment protocol and an availability framework, we assessed the availability of medical abortion medicines in Bangladesh, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and South Africa between September 2019 and January 2020. RESULTS: Registration of abortion medicines-misoprostol or a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol-was established in all countries assessed, except Rwanda. Mifepristone and misoprostol regimen for medical abortion was identified on the national essential medicines list/standard treatment guidelines for South Africa as well as in specific abortion care service and delivery guidelines for Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, and Rwanda. In Liberia, Malawi, and Sierra Leone-countries with highly restrictive abortion laws and no abortion service delivery guidelines or train...