Misoprostol use in obstetrics and gynecology in Brazil, Jamaica, and the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate current clinical use of misoprostol for the treatment of a range of reproductive health indications by providers in Brazil, Jamaica, and the United States.


METHODS
Using a 'snowball' sampling technique, we surveyed 228 gynecologists and obstetricians in Brazil (n=123), Jamaica (n=52), and the United States (n=53).


RESULTS
Providers use misoprostol for labor induction (46%), postpartum hemorrhage (8%), intra-uterine fetal death (61%), cervical priming (21%), missed abortion (57%), and incomplete abortion (16%) as well as first and second trimester abortion induction (27% and 13%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
There is considerable variation in the regimens used; moreover, the regimens commonly used in clinical practice often differ from those recommended in the medical literature. While misoprostol is an appealing alternative for many reproductive health indications in developing countries, the varied regimens and lack of registration raise critical medical and policy questions.
Clark
S
S
Population Council, New York, NY 10017, USA.
Blum
J
J
Blanchard
K
K
Galvão
L
L
Fletcher
H
H
Winikoff
B
B
D001938:Brazil; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014481:United States
D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol