title: Women's experiences with medication for menstrual regulation in Bangladesh.
abstract: Menstrual regulation has been legal in Bangladesh since 1974, but the use of medication for menstrual regulation is new. In this study, we sought to understand women's experiences using medication for menstrual regulation in Bangladesh. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with rural and urban women between December 2013 and February 2014. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, computer recorded and coded for analysis. The majority of women in our study had had positive experiences with medication for menstrual regulation and successful outcomes, regardless of whether they obtained their medication from medicine sellers/pharmacies, doctors or clinics. Women were strongly influenced by health providers when deciding which method to use. There is a need to educate not only women of reproductive age, but also communities as a whole, about medication for menstrual regulation, with a particular emphasis on cost and branding the medication. Continued efforts to improve counselling by providers about the dose, medication and side-effects of medication for menstrual regulation, along with education of the community about medication as an option for menstrual regulation, will help to de-stigmatise the procedure and the women who seek it.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Research and Evaluation , Ipas , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Marlow
authors.affiliation: b Department of Research and Evaluation , Ipas Bangladesh , Dhaka , Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Research and Evaluation , Ipas , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Risa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Research and Evaluation , Ipas , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menzel
mesh_terms: D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001459:Bangladesh; D003657:Decision Making; D016527:Drug Costs; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008598:Menstruation; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone
keywords: Bangladesh; Reproductive health; behaviour; menstrual regulation; women