Summary of included studies by outcome reported
| Study authors (year) | Medication/dosage | Sample size | Gestational age | Completed follow-up | Had abortion | §Used misoprostol | Used recommended dose of misoprostol | Had complications* | Had serious complications† |
| N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | ||||
| Briozzo et al (2006)4 | Misoprostol alone; dosage not specified | 675 | ≤9 weeks: 321/495 (64.8%); 10–12 weeks: 93/495 (18.8%); ≥12 weeks: 57/495 (11.5%); (GA available only for those who followed-up) | 495/675 (73%) | 439/495 (89%) |
439/439
(100%) | – | 3/439 (0.6%): 1 mild post-abortion infection 2 haemorrhage not requiring blood transfusion | 0 |
| Labandera et al (2016) 14 | Not specified | 2717 | <10 weeks: 1777 (68.7%); 10–12 weeks: 541 (20.9%); 13–20 weeks: 247 (9.5%); >20 weeks: 22 (0.9%) | 729/2717 (27%) | – |
672/729
(92%) | – | 46 (6.3%): bleeding or infectious complications that were classified as mild that did not require hospital admission; no details provided | 0 |
| Kahabuka et al (2016)15 | Misoprostol alone; “based on WHO guidelines” | 110 | <8 weeks: 73 (66%) 8–12 weeks: 32 (29%) >12 weeks: 3 (3%) | Completed follow-up: 55/110 (50%) | 54/55 98% |
54/54
(100%) | – | 3/54 (5.6%): all had prolonged bleeding from incomplete procedures | 0 |
| Responded to survey: 50/110 (45%) - convenience sample stopped at 50 participants | 48/50 (96%) | 38/48 who had an abortion (79%) | 29/38 who used misoprostol (76%) | – | – | ||||
| Grossman et al (2016) 16 | Misoprostol alone; dosage not described, but outside medically recommended range was described as <8 pills or >12pills | 500 | – | Completed in-person or telephone follow-up: 177/500 (35%)‡ | – | – | – | – | – |
| ≤6 weeks: 174/253 (69%) 7–8 weeks: 38/253 (15%) 9–10 weeks: 10/253 (4%) (GA available only for those who completed survey) | Completed survey and included in analysis: 253/500 (51%) | 223/253 (88%) | 220/223 (99%) | 158/220 (72%) | 17/220 (8%): 5 haemorrhage (without transfusion) 5 infection (n=5) 5 severe pain 2 other adverse events Treatments: antibiotics (n=5), IV fluids (n=1), surgical abortion (n=8), no treatment (n=3) | 2/220 (1%): 2 women spent one or more nights in a hospital, both received treatment for infection |
| Study authors (year) | Ease of obtaining misoprostol | Location where misoprostol was obtained | Had aspiration after misoprostol | Had complete abortion without aspiration | Satisfaction with harm reduction counselling | Started contraceptive method |
| N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | |
| Briozzo et al (2006)4 | – | – | Not reported; however, in methods section, reported that aspiration rate decreased from 30% to 18% over time | – | – | – |
| Labandera et al (2016)14 | – | – | – | – | 620/729 (85%) reported they received the support and attention they needed | 550/729 (76%) |
| Kahabuka et al (2016) From follow-up From survey 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Very easy to obtain: 33/38 (87%) | Obtained from local pharmacy: 34/38 (90%) | 3/54 (6%): same 3 women who had prolonged bleeding | 51/54 (94%): not explicitly stated but based on number who had aspirations | 49/50 (98%) | 38/54 (70%) | |
| Grossman et al (2016) From follow-up From survey 16 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Very or somewhat easy to obtain: 114/220 (52%) Somewhat hard: 82/220 (37%) Very hard: 31/220 (14%) | Pharmacy: 175/220 (80%) Friends/family: 23/220 (10.5%) Internet: 9/220 (4.1%) Other: 13/220 (4.1%) | 49/220 (22%) | 146/220 (66%): of note, 24 were unsure; and one had no response | 187/220 (85%) very satisfied | 120/220 (55%) |
*Complications are defined as infection not requiring intravenous (IV) antibiotics or hospital admission; haemorrhage or prolonged bleeding not requiring transfusion.
†Serious complications are defined as infection requiring IV antibiotics or hospital admission; haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion; any other complication requiring hospital admission other than simply for aspiration.
‡Note: proportion who completed follow-up is only reported for those who completed the survey and took misoprostol; there may be people who followed up in person or via telephone but did not complete the survey but this is not reported.
§This was the primary outcome for the review.
GA, gestational age; IV, intravenous.