Resumen : An estimated 25-50% of maternal deaths in Peru are caused by complications related to illegal abortion. In 1994, Pathfinder International initiated a program at the Lima Maternal Perinatal Institute to improve treatment of incomplete abortion through use of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) without hospitalization. 15 physicians were trained in the MVA technique. Prior to this program, curettage with general anesthesia and hospitalization was the standard treatment regimen. These two techniques was compared through interviews with both physicians and patients and a timed observation of a random sample of women who underwent outpatient MVA (n = 109), outpatient curettage (n = 77), or curettage with hospitalization (n = 675) at the Lima facility in 1994-95. Although providers were still not fully confident in their MVA skills, they perceived the technique as simpler, safer, and less traumatic to patients than curettage. The total time required (preoperative, operative, postoperative) was 271 minutes for MVA, 290 minutes for outpatient curettage, and 2638 minutes for curettage with hospitalization. The total mean cost per patient (manpower, supplies, administration) was US$16.30 for MVA, $16.70 for outpatient curettage, and $84.11 for curettage with hospitalization. Given an average of 20 incomplete abortion cases per day, the Institute would save about $50,000 a year by treating uncomplicated incomplete abortion cases on an outpatient basis.
Notes : Inglés/anglais/English, nbsp;Abstract : Popline (http://db.jhuccp.org/popinform/basic.html) - PIP 135239