New Evidence Available
Updated Recommendation
A new evidence synthesis was published:2022, Abortion care guideline
View latest version (2022)Bibliographic Info
GuidelineHealth worker roles in providing safe abortion care and post-abortion contraception
Year of Publication2015
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Retired
Context specific recommendation
Only in specific contexts
medical abortion (MA) in the first trimester. Health worker. Doctors of complementary systems of medicine: Recommended in specific circumstances
Notes and Remarks
- 1.We recommend this option only in contexts with established health system mechanisms for the participation of doctors of complementary systems of medicine in other tasks related to maternal and reproductive health
- 2.Available evidence for the independent provision of MA by non-physicians is for pregnancy durations up to 10 weeks (70 days). Further research is needed on pregnancies of 11–12 weeks.
- 3.It is not essential that the person providing the MA should also be trained and competent in MVA provision. However, in such cases, backup referral access to a provider who can perform MVA if needed should be ensured. Such backup does not necessarily have to be at the same site.
- 4.Restrictions on prescribing authority for some categories of providers may need to be modified or other mechanisms put in place for allowing such providers to administer the MA medications within the regulatory framework of the health system.
- 4.There is a higher chance of ongoing pregnancy when misoprostol alone is used; hence, irrespective of the level of provider, training has to emphasize the ability to detect these cases for further management/ referral.