First-trimester medication abortion via telemedicine: A retrospective cohort study
Background: Following the decriminalization of abortion in Colombia and amidst a global health crisis due to COVID-19, Profamilia implemented a telemedicine-assisted first-trimester Medication Abortion (MAB) program. This is an opportunity to reduce inequalities in access and to promote empowerment...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Public Health in Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000764 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846127198117822464 |
|---|---|
| author | Leonardo Cely-Andrade Luis Carlos Enríquez-Santander Karen Cárdenas-Garzón Biani Saavedra-Avendaño Guillermo Antonio Ortiz Avendaño |
| author_facet | Leonardo Cely-Andrade Luis Carlos Enríquez-Santander Karen Cárdenas-Garzón Biani Saavedra-Avendaño Guillermo Antonio Ortiz Avendaño |
| author_sort | Leonardo Cely-Andrade |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Following the decriminalization of abortion in Colombia and amidst a global health crisis due to COVID-19, Profamilia implemented a telemedicine-assisted first-trimester Medication Abortion (MAB) program. This is an opportunity to reduce inequalities in access and to promote empowerment and sexual and reproductive rights. This study aims to describe socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of users and to assess its effectiveness and safety. Study design: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: The study analyzed data from users who received Profamilia's telemedicine abortion services between August 2021 and August 2022 (n = 3073). A descriptive analysis of their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics was performed, grouping, and comparing them according to follow-up status and abortion outcome. Effectiveness was assessed by the percentage of complete abortions without surgical intervention, and safety by the incidence of complications, potential adverse events, and potentially dangerous signs. Results: Most of the users were less than 8 weeks gestation at the start of treatment (88.3 %), from low socioeconomic strata (84.8 %), affiliated to the subsidized healthcare system (87.6 %), with educational levels up to secondary school (81.6 %), between 18 and 35 years (87.4 %), from urban areas (97.8 %) and singles (90,8 %). 94.9 % of users had a complete abortion using medication, and 0.3 % of cases reported complications. Conclusions: First-trimester MAB through telemedicine in the Latin American context is an effective and safe choice. Telehealth is an important strategy to expand access to safe abortion care, especially for those with limited financial means or educational backgrounds. Rural and marginalized populations need more attention to improve access. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e784429db19f454da9bae3b2bc82d32d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2666-5352 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health in Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-e784429db19f454da9bae3b2bc82d32d2024-12-12T05:23:26ZengElsevierPublic Health in Practice2666-53522024-12-018100539First-trimester medication abortion via telemedicine: A retrospective cohort studyLeonardo Cely-Andrade0Luis Carlos Enríquez-Santander1Karen Cárdenas-Garzón2Biani Saavedra-Avendaño3Guillermo Antonio Ortiz Avendaño4Profamilia, Bogotá, Colombia; Corresponding author. Calle 104 # 14-86, Bogotá, Colombia.Profamilia, Bogotá, ColombiaProfamilia, Bogotá, ColombiaIpas Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico City, MexicoIpas Latin America and the Caribbean, North Carolina, United StatesBackground: Following the decriminalization of abortion in Colombia and amidst a global health crisis due to COVID-19, Profamilia implemented a telemedicine-assisted first-trimester Medication Abortion (MAB) program. This is an opportunity to reduce inequalities in access and to promote empowerment and sexual and reproductive rights. This study aims to describe socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of users and to assess its effectiveness and safety. Study design: A retrospective cohort study. Methods: The study analyzed data from users who received Profamilia's telemedicine abortion services between August 2021 and August 2022 (n = 3073). A descriptive analysis of their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics was performed, grouping, and comparing them according to follow-up status and abortion outcome. Effectiveness was assessed by the percentage of complete abortions without surgical intervention, and safety by the incidence of complications, potential adverse events, and potentially dangerous signs. Results: Most of the users were less than 8 weeks gestation at the start of treatment (88.3 %), from low socioeconomic strata (84.8 %), affiliated to the subsidized healthcare system (87.6 %), with educational levels up to secondary school (81.6 %), between 18 and 35 years (87.4 %), from urban areas (97.8 %) and singles (90,8 %). 94.9 % of users had a complete abortion using medication, and 0.3 % of cases reported complications. Conclusions: First-trimester MAB through telemedicine in the Latin American context is an effective and safe choice. Telehealth is an important strategy to expand access to safe abortion care, especially for those with limited financial means or educational backgrounds. Rural and marginalized populations need more attention to improve access.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000764Cohort studyMedication abortionTelemedicineEffectivenessSafetySatisfaction |
| spellingShingle | Leonardo Cely-Andrade Luis Carlos Enríquez-Santander Karen Cárdenas-Garzón Biani Saavedra-Avendaño Guillermo Antonio Ortiz Avendaño First-trimester medication abortion via telemedicine: A retrospective cohort study Public Health in Practice Cohort study Medication abortion Telemedicine Effectiveness Safety Satisfaction |
| title | First-trimester medication abortion via telemedicine: A retrospective cohort study |
| title_full | First-trimester medication abortion via telemedicine: A retrospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | First-trimester medication abortion via telemedicine: A retrospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | First-trimester medication abortion via telemedicine: A retrospective cohort study |
| title_short | First-trimester medication abortion via telemedicine: A retrospective cohort study |
| title_sort | first trimester medication abortion via telemedicine a retrospective cohort study |
| topic | Cohort study Medication abortion Telemedicine Effectiveness Safety Satisfaction |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535224000764 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leonardocelyandrade firsttrimestermedicationabortionviatelemedicinearetrospectivecohortstudy AT luiscarlosenriquezsantander firsttrimestermedicationabortionviatelemedicinearetrospectivecohortstudy AT karencardenasgarzon firsttrimestermedicationabortionviatelemedicinearetrospectivecohortstudy AT bianisaavedraavendano firsttrimestermedicationabortionviatelemedicinearetrospectivecohortstudy AT guillermoantonioortizavendano firsttrimestermedicationabortionviatelemedicinearetrospectivecohortstudy |