title: Three years on: a review of medical terminations of pregnancy performed in a sexual health service.
abstract: Access to abortion services is often limited in parts of regional Australia, including north Queensland. Since March 2006, the Cairns Sexual Health Service (CSHS) has provided medical termination of pregnancy (MToP) services for women up to 9 weeks gestation, using a regimen of methotrexate and misoprostol. We conducted a retrospective chart audit of all women undergoing an MToP at the CSHS between 1 March 2006 and 31 March 2009. In total, 147 medical terminations in 136 women were performed during this 3-year period. At the time of first presentation, the mean age was 27 years, 77 (57%) of the 136 women were of less than 7 weeks gestation and 86 (63%) had not had a previous termination. A successful medical termination of pregnancy was achieved in 69 of 85 (81%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 72, 88) women at less than 7 weeks gestation and in 43 of 62 (69%, 95% CI: 57, 80) women with gestation between 7 and 9 weeks. Provision of medical termination of pregnancy through sexual health services is one strategy to address access inequity in regional areas. Demand for this service in Cairns continues to rise; however, since late August 2009 MToP in Queensland is no longer available pending legal reform.
authors.affiliation: Cairns Sexual Health Service, PO Box 902, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia. sandra_downing@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McNamee
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Penney
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leamy
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Costa
authors.forename: Darren B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D015735:Mifepristone