title: Knowledge and provision practices regarding medical abortion among public providers in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess public service providers' knowledge of medical abortion (MA) and practices, and perspectives on expanding the use of MA to primary and secondary health facilities in Vietnam.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted via an interviewer-administered questionnaire among abortion providers (n=905) from public health facilities between August 2011 and January 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 31.1% of providers performed both surgical and medical abortions; 68.9% offered only surgical abortion. Providers were knowledgeable about the regimen/dosage of mifepristone plus misoprostol regimen; however, knowledge scores were low for gestational age limits for MA, adverse effects of the combined drug regimen, and safety and effectiveness of MA compared with surgical abortion. Knowledge scores were significantly lower among providers in rural areas than among those in urban settings. A large proportion of providers (82.9%) thought that MA should be expanded to primary and secondary health facilities. Perceived barriers to MA expansion included lack of knowledge and training, qualified staff, adequate drug supplies, equipment, or facilities, guidelines and protocols on MA, and patient awareness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Provision of MA in Vietnam was found to be disproportionate to surgical abortion provision and to vary by region. Knowledge of MA was moderate, but poorer among providers in rural settings.
authors: Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Team, Health System Department, Marie Stopes International, London, UK. Electronic address: thoai.ngo@mariestopes.org.
authors: Thoai D
authors: TD
authors: Ngo
authors: Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Free
authors: Department of Environmental Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors: Hoan T
authors: HT
authors: Le
authors: Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors: Phil
authors: P
authors: Edwards
authors: Department of Health Economics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors: Kiet H T
authors: KH
authors: Pham
authors: Department of Health Economics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors: Yen B T
authors: YB
authors: Nguyen
authors: Research and Metrics Team, Marie Stopes International Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors: Thang H
authors: TH
authors: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019037:Urban Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014744:Vietnam; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone
keywords: Attitudes; Knowledge; Manual vacuum aspiration; Medical abortion; Mifepristone; Misoprostol; Practices; Vietnam