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Background:

In Bangladesh, abortion is restricted except to save the life of a woman, but menstrual regulation (MR) is allowed to induce menstruation and return to non-pregnancy after a missed period. Midwives who are relatively new professionals in Bangladesh can play an important role in Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) and scale up their involvement in post-abortion care is an important strategy in expanding access to care. Midwifery lead interventions have shown to be associated with efficient use of resources and to have a positive impact on health outcomes. Quality of care regarding MR depends on providers attitude, perceptions, and knowledge which can be ensured by midwives.

Objective:

To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions in relation to menstrual regulation among future midwives in Bangladesh.

Methods:

A cross-sectional design using standardized questionnaires with closed questions covering knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions in relation to MR were conducted among 150 midwifery students of third-year students from 16 institutions providing midwifery education programme at diploma level in Bangladesh. 141 completed questionnaires were entered and statistically analyzed by Excel.

Results

: From this study, it was found that more than half of the students would deny providing MR service if the woman does not have consent from her husband (56%) but would provide MR services to the woman if she is unmarried (56%). Regarding the MR policy in Bangladesh, 98% students have the perception that women seeking MR services need a husband’s or parental permission. 71% knows that MR is allowed up to 12 weeks from the last date of menstruation, 84% knows about the use of misoprostol as safe MR agent. Regarding the accessibly of MR services, 83% knows it is accessible in tertiary or referral facilities and only 59% knows that it is accessible in rural primary health care facilities. Still, 27% knows that only doctors are allowed to perform MR.

Conclusion:

Service providers’ attitude towards service recipients depends on their knowledge and practice, important are changes in attitude. Specific training, advocacy and also counseling regarding MR services can change perceptions.