Misoprostol use in obstetrics and gynecology in Brazil, Jamaica, and the United States.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate current clinical use of misoprostol for the treatment of a range of reproductive health indications by providers in Brazil, Jamaica, and the United States.

METHODS

Using a 'snowball' sampling technique, we surveyed 228 gynecologists and obstetricians in Brazil (n=123), Jamaica (n=52), and the United States (n=53).

RESULTS

Providers use misoprostol for labor induction (46%), postpartum hemorrhage (8%), intra-uterine fetal death (61%), cervical priming (21%), missed abortion (57%), and incomplete abortion (16%) as well as first and second trimester abortion induction (27% and 13%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

There is considerable variation in the regimens used; moreover, the regimens commonly used in clinical practice often differ from those recommended in the medical literature. While misoprostol is an appealing alternative for many reproductive health indications in developing countries, the varied regimens and lack of registration raise critical medical and policy questions.