TY - JOUR
T1 - First-trimester surgical abortion practices
T2 - a survey of National Abortion Federation members
AU - O'Connell, Katharine
AU - Jones, Heidi E.
AU - Simon, Melissa
AU - Saporta, Vicki
AU - Paul, Maureen
AU - Lichtenberg, E. Steve
PY - 2009/5
Y1 - 2009/5
N2 - Background: Designated providers in specialized clinics perform the majority of approximately 1.1 million first-trimester abortions carried out in the United States each year. Our objective was to assess the first-trimester surgical abortion practices of National Abortion Federation (NAF) members. Study Design: We mailed questionnaires to NAF administrators and providers at their 364 active-member facilities in 2002. Results: Two hundred eighty-nine (79%) facilities responded; we received administrative questionnaires from 273 facilities and 293 individual clinicians. NAF facilities provided at least 325,000 first-trimester surgical abortions in the United States in 2001. The majority of providers are obstetrician-gynecologists (63%), male (62%) and at least 50 years old (64%). Half of clinicians (49%) selectively utilize manual vacuum aspiration. Almost half (47%) routinely use a metal curette to verify procedure completion; these providers are more likely to be over 50 years of age or to have 20 years or more of abortion experience. Other practices are more uniform, including routine tissue examination (93%), postoperative antibiotics (88%) and contraceptive provision (oral contraceptives, 99%; depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, 79%). Conclusions: Most perioperative practices for first-trimester abortions are similar among these respondents, in accord with evidence-based guidelines. The aging of skilled practitioners raises concerns about the future availability of surgical abortion.
AB - Background: Designated providers in specialized clinics perform the majority of approximately 1.1 million first-trimester abortions carried out in the United States each year. Our objective was to assess the first-trimester surgical abortion practices of National Abortion Federation (NAF) members. Study Design: We mailed questionnaires to NAF administrators and providers at their 364 active-member facilities in 2002. Results: Two hundred eighty-nine (79%) facilities responded; we received administrative questionnaires from 273 facilities and 293 individual clinicians. NAF facilities provided at least 325,000 first-trimester surgical abortions in the United States in 2001. The majority of providers are obstetrician-gynecologists (63%), male (62%) and at least 50 years old (64%). Half of clinicians (49%) selectively utilize manual vacuum aspiration. Almost half (47%) routinely use a metal curette to verify procedure completion; these providers are more likely to be over 50 years of age or to have 20 years or more of abortion experience. Other practices are more uniform, including routine tissue examination (93%), postoperative antibiotics (88%) and contraceptive provision (oral contraceptives, 99%; depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, 79%). Conclusions: Most perioperative practices for first-trimester abortions are similar among these respondents, in accord with evidence-based guidelines. The aging of skilled practitioners raises concerns about the future availability of surgical abortion.
KW - Abortion
KW - Canada
KW - Dilation and curettage
KW - First-trimester surgical abortion
KW - United States
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U2 - 10.1016/j.contraception.2008.11.005
DO - 10.1016/j.contraception.2008.11.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 19341852
AN - SCOPUS:63049096264
VL - 79
SP - 385
EP - 392
JO - Contraception
JF - Contraception
SN - 0010-7824
IS - 5
ER -