Informal distributors

Problem

The majority of women access Misoprostol through clandestine sellers who are  hidden on social networks or through vague ads. While some of these these distributors provide accurate information about dosage, side effects, and signs of an emergency, there are many who do not. Providing inaccurate information about this medicine puts the women taking it at great risk, physically and legally.

Innovation

We provide informal distributors of misoprostol with information about how to use the medication safely and correctly. First, we identify distribution and marketing channels for misoprostol in Central America, finding out how many vendors there are in each country, what information they provide to clients, and the amount of women they reach each year. Second, we meet with each vendor, familiarizing them with an app that contains clear and reliable information about how to use misoprostol safely and correctly. Finally, we follow up with each vendor to see whether or not they have incorporated these materials into their sales protocols. The goal of this harm reduction strategy to improve the safety of women using misoprostol obtained from clandestine sellers.

Next Steps

We plan to locate and work with informal distributors in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Panama. We would like to conduct in-country and cross-country analyses of the situation in each of these countries.