ABSTRACT

Bracken, Hillary, Orion Gliozheni, Kreston Kati, Nikita Manoku, Rubena Moisiu, Caitlin Shannon, Vjollca Tare, IIir Tasha, and Beverly Winikoff. 2006. "Mifepristone medical abortion in Albania: Results from a pilot clinical research study," European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care 11(1): 38–46.

Objective
To explore the acceptability and feasibility of introducing mifepristone–misoprostol for early medical abortion in home and clinic settings in Albania.

Methods
This was a prospective study testing a simplified mifepristone–misoprostol regimen in two tertiary-level government health facilities in Tirana, Albania. Women (n=409) with amenorrhea of eight weeks or less received 200 mg mifepristone in the clinic and then chose whether to take 400 g of oral misoprostol two days later either at home or in the clinic.

Results
Nearly 97 percent of women successfully terminated their pregnancies using the simplified regimen. Almost all women found the method either satisfactory (49.4%) or highly satisfactory (41.1%). Almost all women who were given the option selected the home use protocol. Women choosing home administration of misoprostol were able to manage the medical abortion process on their own.

Conclusion
A reduced dose mifepristone medical abortion regimen with home administration of misoprostol is feasible for introduction into healthcare facilities in Albania.

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