Morbidity and mortality due to unsafe abortion in Pakistan
Abstract
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.
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In Pakistan, 80% of women had terminations performed by health professionals (doctors, lady health visitors, or nurses).
“In a recent study from Pakistan, 80% of the women had terminations performed by health professionals, namely doctors, lady health visitors or nurses (13).”
From Unsafe abortion and postabortion care - an overview (2011) · cites this paper as [13]
Cites
Okonofua, F. E., Shittu, S. O., Oronsaye, F., Ogunsakin, D., Ogbomwan, S., & Zayyan, M. (2005) · Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00405.x · Cited by 41 · cited 1× · see citing works
“The World Health Organization (WHO) defines an unsafe abortion as a procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy either by individuals without the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimum medical standards, or both [2].”
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Unsafe abortion and postabortion care - an overview
RASCH, V. (2011) · Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01165.x · Cited by 94 · see citing works
- Authors
- Shaikh, Z., Abbassi, R. M., Rizwan, N., & Abbasi, S.
- Affiliations
- Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences (PK)
- Venue
- International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-04-14
- Volume
- 110
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 47-49
- ISSN
- 0020-6695 (ISSN-L)
- 0020-7292
- 1879-3479
- OpenAlex
- W2019322952
- Cited by
- 40
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Maternal and fetal healthcare
- Keywords
- unsafe abortion, abortion complications, maternal mortality, uterine perforation, incomplete abortion, retained products of conception, hemorrhage, dilation and evacuation, laminaria tents, untrained birth attendants, unintended pregnancy, Pakistan
- MeSH terms
- Abortion, Incomplete, Abortion, Induced, Adolescent, Adult, Dilatation and Curettage, Female, Gestational Age, Hemorrhage, Humans, Laminaria, Pakistan, Pregnancy, Uterine Perforation, Gastrointestinal Tract, Young Adult
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