Background: Georgia (GA) is currently facing a crisis in maternal and reproductive health. The unintended pregnancy and teen pregnancy rates in GA surpass the national average, and GA leads the country in maternal mortality rates. In 2014, 96% of Georgia counties had no clinics that provided abortion, and 58% of GA women lived in those ...Read more >

Twenty percent of clinically recognized pregnancies result in early pregnancy loss (EPL). One of the most common symptoms of EPL, vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, accounts for 2% of all visits to the emergency department (ED) every year. Treatment options that can be offered to patients in the ED include expectant, medical, or surgical management. All ...Read more >

Even after receiving contraceptive counselling and obtaining a method of choice, women may have ongoing questions and concerns. Those who are poorly served by existing healthcare settings may feel unwilling to seek further reproductive care. Others may develop a distrust of the healthcare system and prefer not to follow-up. One way to promote patient satisfaction ...Read more >

Literature suggests that when individuals need to make important medical decisions, they often consult those most important in their lives for advice and support. Abortion can be a complex decision, especially given the social discord surrounding it. While extensive research has been done on who gets an abortion and why, much less information is available ...Read more >

Gender-based violence exists in many formats, including reproductive coercion, a concept newly recognized by the medical community. Reproductive coercion (RC) is defined as behavior that undermines autonomous decision making in areas of reproductive health as a method of maintaining power and control. Several types of coercive behaviors compose RC such as birth control sabotage (e.g. ...Read more >

This retrospective cohort study aims to determine the effect of cervical preparation with osmotic dilators plus adjuvant overnight mifepristone compared to same-day misoprostol prior to dilation and evacuation between 18 0/7 and 21 6/7 weeks’ gestation on procedure time and other important clinical outcomes. Our sample size (n=574) will also allow greater numbers to describe important but uncommon ...Read more >

This a survey study of Irish general practitioners and OB-GYNs which examines their willingness and ability to participate in abortion services in the context of recent legal change.

A randomized, double-blind, three arm trial at a single abortion clinic that will assess whether auricular acupressure with beads in addition to usual care (paracervical block and ibuprofen) reduces subject-reported maximum pain compared to usual care alone. We also seek to confirm the previous finding that acupuncture with needles as an adjunct to usual care ...Read more >

The Flint Water Crisis exposed its citizens to contaminants of lead, fecal bacteria and legionella. We will examine the reproductive health outcomes of Flint women who were pregnant during 2014-2018 and use Flint as its own historical control. We will examine miscarriage, abortion, live birth and pregnancy rates. We will also conduct interviews with reproductive ...Read more >

  Much research exists to support the provision of medication abortion in primary care settings. Studies have demonstrated that medication abortions provided by family physicians is safe, effective, and acceptable. In addition, integration of abortion care into routine family practice allows patients to avoid potential harm caused by security measures, protesters and the social stigma ...Read more >