title: [Illegal abortion with misoprostol in Guadeloupe].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the typical profile, and to assess the motivations of women who underwent illegal abortion with misoprostol in Guadeloupe (French West Indies).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 1-year prospective study on women who consulted after failure or complication of an illegal abortion with misoprostol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two cases of illegal abortion with misoprostol were recorded. The most common profile was an unemployed woman, who was unmarried, foreign-born, had no medical insurance, and a low level of education; the median age was 28 (range 17 to 40). The justifications given were that the legal procedure was considered to be too slow, the young age of the woman, the ease of the self-medication procedure, a history of illegal abortion by misoprostol in the woman's country of origin, ignorance of the legal process, and financial and/or administrative problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The problem of illegal abortion is probably underestimated in Guadeloupe and possibly France. This description of the profile of the population concerned and the justifications for choosing illegal abortion by misoprostol provides elements allowing better focus of education concerning abortion, contraception and family planning. Access to legal abortion centers should also be improved.
authors.affiliation: Service de gynécologie et obstétrique, pôle parent-enfant, CHU de Pointe-à-Pitre/Abymes, route de Chauvel, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre cedex, Guadeloupe, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manouana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kadhel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koffi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Janky
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000024:Abortion, Illegal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D019430:Guadeloupe; D006801:Humans; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012646:Self Administration; D012847:Single Person; D014478:Unemployment
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol