Determinants of provider intentions in medical abortions in Bihar, India

Lisa Patel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Unsafe abortion is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in India. Medical abortion using a regimen of mifepristone coupled with misoprostol was legalized in India in April 2002 and provides an opportunity to expand women’s options for safe abortions. Medical abortions have been found to be safe and acceptable for women living in both urban and rural settings worldwide. No published studies have looked at provider opinions and practices regarding medical abortion in India. This study uses 2004 data from probability sample surveys of over 1300 health care facilities and over 2000 health care providers in Bihar and Jharkhand, India to describe factors associated with family planning providers’ intentions to provide medical abortions. A better understanding of the characteristics of abortion services providers is necessary to design effective interventions to help improve and save the lives of women.