AUTHOR=Menjli Sana , Labidi Imen , Arfaoui Bilel , Amami Malek , Magdoud Khaoula , Chanoufi Mohamed Badis 
  
TITLE=Medical induced abortion in public health facilities of Tunis: epidemiological profile and factors associated with treatment failure
  
JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health
  
VOLUME=Volume 71 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2026.1608867
  
DOI=10.3389/ijph.2026.1608867
  
ISSN=1661-8564
  
ABSTRACT=ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to describe the epidemiological profile of patients who underwent medical abortion and to determine the factors associated with treatment failure.MethodsA descriptive, cross-sectional study with retrospective collection was conducted, in two family planning centers and the emergency department.ResultsA total of 366 patients were included. Mean age was 32 years (±7), and 70.2% were married; 53.27% were unemployed. Mean gestational age was 6.83 weeks (±1.094), and the protocol was effective in 90% of cases; the main complication was hemorrhagic abortion. Treatment failure was associated with multigravidity (p = 0.004), multiparity (p = 0.049), number of previous abortions (p = 0.032), and diarrhea (p < 0.001).ConclusionMedical abortion was successful in approximately 90% of participants, with few major complications. Reproductive-history characteristics and diarrhea after misoprostol were associated with treatment failure; given the small number of failures and potential selection bias, these associations should be interpreted cautiously and confirmed in larger prospective studies.