Characteristics of included studies
| Study authors (year) | Study title | Population | Setting | Harm reduction intervention details | Comparison group | How complete abortion was confirmed |
| Briozzo et al (2006)4 | A risk reduction strategy to prevent maternal deaths associated with unsafe abortion | Women uncertain of pregnancy intention and those seeking an abortion | Pereira Rossell Hospital (public university teaching hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay) | Pregnancy confirmation, gestational age determination (US), information about different means to induce abortion in Uruguay, information about use of misoprostol, no information about where to buy misoprostol; post-abortion visit | None | Not specified |
| Labandera et al (2016)14 | Implementation of the risk and harm reduction strategy against unsafe abortion in Uruguay: from a university hospital to the entire country | Women uncertain of pregnancy intention and those seeking an abortion | Eight public health centres in four departments in Uruguay | Pregnancy confirmation, gestational age determination (US), information about different means to induce abortion in Uruguay, information about use of misoprostol, no information about where to buy misoprostol; post-abortion visit | None | Not specified |
| Kahabuka et al (2016)15 | Provision of harm reduction services to limit unsafe abortion in Tanzania | Women who received harm reduction counselling | Public health centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | Pregnancy confirmation, gestational age assessment (US for women who could not remember LMP), information regarding health risks associated with various methods of induced abortion, information on the unsafe procedures commonly used in Tanzania, information about misoprostol but not how or where to get it; follow-up visit 7–14 days after the initial visit | None | “Medical examination to confirm that the induced abortion was complete” |
| Grossman et al (2016)16 | A harm-reduction model of abortion counselling about misoprostol use in Peru with telephone and in-person follow-up: a cohort study | Spanish-speaking women 18 years or older seeking harm reduction services | Two clinic sites in Lima, Peru (clinics belonging to nongovernmental sexual and reproductive health organisation) | Pregnancy confirmation, gestational age assessment by US, options counselling, information about misoprostol; participant can select in-person or telephone follow-up visit | None | Questionnaire |
LMP: last menstrual period; US: ultrasound
LMP, Last menstrual period; US, ultrasound.