PROJECT STATEMENT

PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO TEST AND EVALUATE IMPROVED AND SIMPLIFIED ABORTION TECHNIQUES, SHARING SUCCESSFUL METHODS WITH SELECTED PRACTICIONERS FROM LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. THIS CONTRACEPTIVE RESEARCH PROJECT HAS A POTENTIAL IMPACT ON POPULATION PROGRAMS WORLDWIDE. JHU INVESTIGATORS WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH AND EVALUATE RESULTS USING BOTH RHESUS MONKEYS AND CONSENTING HUMAN PATIENTS IN SUBPROJECTS THAT INCLUDE EARLY PREGNANCY DETECTION,PHARMACOLOGIC TERMINATION & MECHANICAL EVACUATION OF FIRST AND SECOND TRIMESTER FETUSES,IMPROVEMENT OF MENSES INDUCTION AND CERVICAL DILATION TECHNIQUES,AND IMPROVEMENT OF SURGICAL ABORTION EQUIPMENT. IN EACH CASE,CRITERIA AND STANDARDS WILL BE APPLIED TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE EFFICACY,SAFETY,AND PATIENT ACCEPTABILITY OF EACH TECHNIQUE TESTED. SELECTED LDC PRACTITIONERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A 4-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM ON LOCATION AT THE JHU CLINICAL RESEARCH UNIT TO ACQUIRE TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY IN ABORTION TECHNIQUES,STERILIZATION PROCEDURES,AND PLACEMENT OF INTRAUTERINE DEVICES. FORTY PRACTITIONERS WILL BE SELECTED FOR TRAINING IN THE FIRST YEAR; 55 THE SECOND YEAR; AND 70 IN THE PROJECT"S FINAL YEAR. A SIMPLIFIED SURGICAL ABORTION SET WITH ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTION MANUAL WILL BE DESIGNED FOR USE IN LDC"S. THE CLINICAL RESEARCH UNIT WILL ALSO INVESTIGATE DRUGS AND TECHNIQUES CURRENTLY BEING UTILIZED IN LDC FERTILITY CONTROL PROGRAMS TO SEEK WAYS OF ELIMINATING OR MINIMIZING HAZARDOUS AND UNDESIRABLE SIDE EFFECTS. PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES WILL BE PARTICIPATING LDC PRACTITIONERS WHO RECEIVE TRAINING IN SIMPLIFIED TECHNIQUES OF FERTILITY CONTROL. IF SUCCESSFUL,THE PROJECT SHOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON LDC POPULATION CONTROL EFFORTS WORLDWIDE AND ON THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUAL WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.