Complications attributed to illicit abortions

Abstract

A four year prospective study was carried out involving 83 cases of induced abortions, 72 were induced illegally and 11 were medically indicated, to determine the incidence and types of complications of illegally induced abortions as well as those of therapeutic ones. The prevalence of illegal abortion was 3.61% and that of therapeutic was 0.55%. In illegally induced group, age of 48 (66.66%) women ranged between 21-35 years, 34 (47.22%) were grand multiparas and 79% were illiterate. In 31 (43.25%) women, illegal abortions were carried out by TBAs and the most commonly used method was instrumentation employed in 46 (63.88%) of cases. The commonest complication detected was haemorrhage occurred in 31 (43.25%) patients, followed by sepsis in 24 (33.33%) and trauma in 13 (18%) cases. Indications of therapeutic abortions included maternal malignant diseases and fetal anomalies. Only one patient developed post abortal endometritis.