title: Study of knowledge and attitudes on medical abortion among Chinese health providers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate providers' knowledge and attitudes about medical abortion (MA) and their views regarding the main challenges to expanding the use of MA in urban and rural areas in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 658 abortion providers were surveyed from November 7, 2009, to May 29, 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The providers' knowledge about MA was relatively poor, and most thought the risks of severe complications of MA were much higher than they are. Urban nonphysician providers were the least informed about MA. Most providers thought that the main challenges to an expanded use of MA were its lesser effectiveness in comparison to surgical abortion and women's lack of knowledge about it. In rural areas many providers thought that deficiencies of clinics, such as limited bed space and inadequate toilets and washing facilities, also posed serious obstacles to expanding MA use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abortion providers, especially urban nonphysician providers, need refresher training to strengthen their knowledge of the approved protocol for providing MA in China, and also of the indications, contraindications, and safety and efficacy of the method. Deficiencies at abortion facilities should be addressed as well, and they are more numerous in rural areas.
authors: Center for Social Medicine Research, National Research Institute for Family Planning (NRIFP), Beijing, China. cymcp55@163.com
authors: Yimin
authors: Y
authors: Cheng
authors: You
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Xiaomei
authors: X
authors: Jiang
authors: Maomao
authors: M
authors: Xi
authors: Kang
authors: K
authors: Gan
authors: Shanshan
authors: S
authors: Ren
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002681:China; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents