Reemergence of self-induced abortions

Spontaneous and Complicated Therapeutic Abortion in the Emergency Department

Pregnancy-related emergency department visits are common in the United States. Although typically managed safely in the outpatient setting, patients with spontaneous abortion may also present with life-threatening hemorrhage or infection. Management strategies for spontaneous abortion are similarly wide-ranging from expectant management to emergent surgical intervention. Surgical management of complicated therapeutic abortion is similar to that of spontaneous abortion. The dramatic changes in the legal status of abortion in the United States may have significant influence on the incidence of complicated therapeutic abortion, and we encourage emergency physicians to familiarize themselves with the diagnosis and management of these conditions.

Reproductive health of homeless adolescent women in Seattle, Washington, USA

OBJECTIVES

Homeless adolescent women are at high risk for negative health outcomes including early unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The purpose of this study was to hear the perspectives of homeless adolescent females on the topics of health issues, self-care and fertility control, as well as on lessons from being homeless.

DESIGN

The rescarch was descriptive, using semi-structured interviews and focus groups with a purposeful sample of 20 clinic-based female youth ages 15-23 years. The data were coded and analyzed following standard qualitative tcchniques.

RESULTS

The youth described female-specific health issues of being homeless, such as problems with hygiene, sexual exploitation, survival sex. Most knew of homeless female youth who had tried self-induced abortions through drugs, herbs or physical abuse. They spoke of fertility control practices of young women living on the streets. The women also spoke of the lessons they had learned while being homeless, including the development of self-sufficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

The young women in this study were willing to discuss their perspectives and experiences of being homeless. Health care providers should receive increased training in how to ask about sensitive subjects such as survival sex and the practice of self-induced abortions. Programs should be structured to ensure engagement of the women in healthy relationships with adults.

Risky choices: the dangers of teens using self-induced abortion attempts

Although researchers and practitioners alike have long been aware of the existence and dangers of self-induced abortions, virtually no research exists on this topic. This article describes methods of self-induced abortion from current and historical literature. A case study of an adolescent using quinine is discussed to highlight both the reasons some adolescents choose to self-abort and the possible dangers of using such methods. Serious risks to the adolescent are associated with any self-induced abortion attempt. Nurse practitioners are in a key position to assess an adolescent's risk factors for self-induced abortion attempts and to educate about the dangers of such attempts.