A senior research scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, Onikepe Owolabi recommends providing training to improve drug sellers’ knowledge of and communication about the safe and effective use of misoprostol to protect women’s health and well-being.
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“Overall, 85% of participants in our study said they would recommend misoprostol to a friend with an unintended pregnancy,” he said.
“For many women, drug sellers are the first, and often only, point of care, which means they are a vital resource for providing high-quality information about this medication.”
“We found that 94% of women reported a complete abortion without medical intervention within one month of taking misoprostol, which speaks to the safety and effectiveness of misoprostol as a method for self-managed abortion,” explains Akanni Akinyemi, Professor of Demography at Obafemi Awolowo University.
While these findings may not be generalizable to the rest of the country and women’s experiences may differ, it is likely that self-use of misoprostol will continue to be a safe and effective alternative for women who may otherwise induce an abortion using unsafe methods, particularly in settings where abortion is legally restricted.