OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of women who had undergone an unsafe abortion and attended a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan with complications. METHODS: Patients with a history of termination at a gestational age of less than or equal to 22 weeks were included in the study. RESULTS: Of 230 women who met the inclusion criteria, 50 (21.7%) patients had undergone an unsafe abortion and attended the hospital with associated complications. Unintended pregnancy was the reason for the abortion in 82% of women (n=41). Eighteen (36%) underwent terminations performed by doctors, 18 (36%) by Lady Health Visitors (n=18), 10 (20%) by an untrained birth attendant (Dai), and 4 (8.0%) by nurses. Dilatation and evacuation procedures were performed in 28 (56.0%) women, while a Laminaria tent prior to evacuation was used in 18 (36.0%). Major complications included uterine perforation and gastrointestinal injury, observed in 27 (54.0%) women. Hemorrhage was observed in 13 (26.0%) women with retained products of conception after incomplete abortion. Six (12.0%) women died. CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers performed the majority of terminations. To prevent maternal mortality, improved skills through refresher courses and workshops on safer methods are needed. Copyright (c) 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of women who had undergone an unsafe abortion and attended a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan with complications. METHODS:Patients with a history of termination at a gestational age of less than or equal to 22 weeks were included in the study. RESULTS: Of 230 women who met the inclusion criteria, 50 (21.7%) patients had undergone an unsafe abortion and attended the hospital with associated complications. Unintended pregnancy was the reason for the abortion in 82% of women (n=41). Eighteen (36%) underwent terminations performed by doctors, 18 (36%) by Lady Health Visitors (n=18), 10 (20%) by an untrained birth attendant (Dai), and 4 (8.0%) by nurses. Dilatation and evacuation procedures were performed in 28 (56.0%) women, while a Laminaria tent prior to evacuation was used in 18 (36.0%). Major complications included uterine perforation and gastrointestinal injury, observed in 27 (54.0%) women. Hemorrhage was observed in 13 (26.0%) women with retained products of conception after incomplete abortion. Six (12.0%) women died. CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers performed the majority of terminations. To prevent maternal mortality, improved skills through refresher courses and workshops on safer methods are needed. Copyright (c) 2010 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors: Vibeke Rasch; Pernille H Sørensen; Anna R Wang; Flora Tibazarwa; Anna K Jäger Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2014-12-19 Impact factor: 3.007