International audience

ObjectiveTo document the use of Foley catheter as an alternative to osmotic dilators for cervical preparation before second trimester dilation and evacuation at a tertiary setting in Ethiopia MethodsThis is a retrospective case series conducted at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (Ethiopia) from April 1, 2021 to August 30, 2021. Forty-three cases of dilation and evacuation (D&E) in which overnight intra-cervical Foley catheter placement was used to prepare the cervix were reviewed. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 and simple descriptive statistics were applied to analyze the clinical characteristics of study subjects and procedure outcomes. Percentages and frequencies were used to present the findings. ResultsThe calculated median gestational age was 21.4(17–24.2) weeks. Around 40%(17/43) of cases had cervical dilation of 3 to 4 cm, with another 33% (14/43) achieving cervical dilation of 1.5 to 2.5 cm. Additional dilation during the procedure was required only in 12 cases (28%) prior to D&E procedure. In 36 cases (84%), the procedure was attended by family planning fellow. ConclusionCervical preparation using overnight Foley catheter before second-trimester D&E resulted in majority of the cases requiring no additional dilation immediately prior to D&E procedure. Where osmotic dilators are not available, Foley catheter can be an alternative method to prepare the cervix prior to D&E procedures. ImplicationsIn the absence of osmotic dilators, Foley catheter can be used as an alternate, and readily available means of cervical preparation for second trimester D&E procedures

ObjectiveReproductive autonomy (i.e., power to control and decide about contraceptive use, pregnancy and childbearing) could determine a woman’s capacity to use contraception. Although the Reproductive Autonomy Scale was developed to quantitatively assess women’s reproductive autonomy, it has not been validated in any population outside the United States. Study designWe conducted a cross-sectional study of reproductive-age, sexually active women in Hanoi, Vietnam, who did not desire pregnancy. We administered a questionnaire containing the Reproductive Autonomy Scale and calculated composite scores of the measure’s three subscales: (1) decision-making power, (2) freedom from coercion and (3) communication ability. To assess internal consistency, we calculated Cronbach’s alpha score for each subscale. We used logistic regression to evaluate differences in subscale scores between women who did and did not engage in unprotected sex in the past month. ResultsAnalysis is based on 500 participants; of these women, 17% (n=85) engaged in unprotected sex in the past month. Subscales had moderate to high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.65–0.87). Mean subscale scores did not vary between women who did and did not engage in recent unprotected sex. Unprotected sex in the past month was not associated with decision-making power (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–1.20), freedom from coercion (aOR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.52–1.67) or communication ability (aOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 0.92–3.09). ConclusionFindings highlight the need to develop and validate a new measure for reproductive autonomy for populations outside the United States or to adapt the existing measure for these contexts.