title: Contribution of the Central American and Caribbean obstetrics and gynecology societies to the prevention of unsafe abortion in the region.
abstract: Unsafe abortion is a very important public health issue in the Central America and Caribbean region, where the use of modern contraceptive methods remains low and the restrictive legal framework reduces access to safe abortion. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and its Consequences is contributing toward resolving this problem by strengthening collaboration between medical societies, representatives of each country's Ministry of Health, and local and international agencies. In the 8 countries that decided to join this initiative in 2008, progress has been achieved in improving access to modern contraceptive methods, increasing the use of manual vacuum aspiration and misoprostol, and updating guidelines on postabortion care.
authors.affiliation: Salvadorean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Salvador, El Salvador. Electronic address: gilpas2002@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Marina Padilla
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: de Gil
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000592:standards*; D000359:Aftercare / Q000379:methods; D017691:Caribbean Region; D002489:Central America; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007391:International Cooperation; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009774:Obstetrics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014619:Vacuum Curettage / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D016595:Misoprostol
keywords: Central America and the Caribbean; FIGO initiative; Obstetrics and Gynecology Societies; Plan of action; Prevention; Unsafe abortion