Women’s perceptions and experiences of medical treatment for incomplete abortion in Malawi: a mixed methods study

Abstract Background Abortion related complications are among the leading causes of maternal mortality in Malawi. Misoprostol is recommended for the treatment of first trimester incomplete abortions but is seldom used for post abortion care in Malawi. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study that used mixed methods was conducted in 3 hospitals in central Malawi. A survey was done on 400 women and in-depth interviews with 24 women receiving misoprostol for incomplete abortion. Convenience and purposive sampling methods were used and data were analysed using STATA 16.0 for quantitative part and thematic analysis for qualitative part. Results Data are presented in tables and narratives, three themes emerged around the following areas: experienced effects, support offered, and women’s perceptions. Almost all participants reported having received drugs and counselling as support from health care workers. The majority of participants, 94%, reported satisfaction with the support and described misoprostol as helpful and effective in expelling retained products of conception. Misoprostol was preferred and regarded as the most reliable treatment and beneficial to women by most participants. The majority of the women reported tolerable effects of the drug and 91% would recommend misoprostol to friends. Conclusions The use of misoprostol for incomplete abortion in Malawi is acceptable and regarded as helpful and satisfactory among women. Trial registration: Not applicable