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Cited by 108Reproductive Health and ContraceptionGlobal Maternal and Child HealthMaternal and fetal healthcare

Severity and Cost of Unsafe Abortion Complications Treated in Nigerian Hospitals

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Henshaw, Stanley K., Adewole, Isaac, Singh, Susheela, Bankole, Akinrinola, Oye-Adeniran, Boniface, Hussain, Rubina·2008·International Family Planning Perspectives
DOI 10.1363/3404008
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Abstract

CONTEXT: Each year, thousands of Nigerian women have unintended pregnancies that end in illegal abortion. Many such procedures occur under unsafe conditions, contributing to maternal morbidity and mortality. METHODS: In a 2002-2003 survey of women and their providers in 33 hospitals in eight states across Nigeria, 2,093 patients were identified as being treated for complications of abortion or miscarriage or seeking an abortion. Women's abortion experiences and the health consequences and associated costs were examined through bivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the characteristics of women by type of pregnancy loss and to compare characteristics among three groups of women who had induced abortions in differing circumstances. RESULTS: Among women admitted for abortion-related reasons, 36% had attempted to end the pregnancy before coming to the hospital (including 24% with and 12% without serious complications), 33% obtained an induced abortion at the facility (not withstanding the country's restrictive law) without having made a prior abortion attempt and 32% were treated for complications from a miscarriage. Of women with serious complications, 24% had sepsis, 21% pelvic infection and 11% instrumental injury; 22% required blood transfusion and 10% needed abdominal surgery. The women in this group were poorer and later in gestation than those who sought abortions directly from hospitals. They paid more for treatment (about 13,900 naira) than those who went directly to the hospital for an abortion (3,800 naira) or those treated for miscarriage (5,100 naira). CONCLUSIONS: Policy and program interventions are needed to improve access to contraceptive services and postabortion care in order to reduce abortion-related morbidity and mortality.

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  • In a Nigerian study of 586 patients admitted with abortion complications in 2002, the most common complications were infection (55%), bleeding (17%), and trauma to the genital tract (12%).

    “In a Nigerian study based on data from 586 patients admitted with abortion complications in 2002, the most common were infection (55%), bleeding (17%) and trauma to the genital tract (12%) (30).”

    From Unsafe abortion and postabortion care - an overview (2011) · cites this paper as [30]

    Table 6 (page unavailable) includes 586 women who had attempted to end a pregnancy before hospital admission and reports genital or cervical trauma in 11.8%, consistent with the cited 12%. But it reports bleeding or retained products in 54.8% and fever in 17.1%, not infection in 55% and bleeding in 17%. The claim also describes the 586 women as all admitted with complications, whereas the table includes women without serious complications. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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  • In Nigeria, the average costs for women admitted with complications after an unsafe abortion were four times higher than for women who had a safe abortion within the hospital setting.

    “In Nigeria, the average costs for women admitted with complications after an unsafe abortion were four times higher than for women who had a safe abortion within the hospital setting (30).”

    From Unsafe abortion and postabortion care - an overview (2011) · cites this paper as [30]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Bankole A et al., Abortion seeking behavior among Nigerian women, Journal of Biosocial Science, 2008, 40(2):247-268.

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Authors
Henshaw, S. K., Adewole, I., Singh, S., Bankole, A., Oye-Adeniran, B., & Hussain, R.
ORCID
Venue
International Family Planning Perspectives
Publisher
Guttmacher Institute
Published
2008-03
Volume
34
Issue
01
Pages
040-051
ISSN
0190-3187 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1363/3404008
OpenAlex
W4233920082
Cited by
108
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 7
FWCI
7.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Family Planning Perspectives (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • David and Lucile Packard Foundation
  • John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
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, complication severity, health care costs, hospital costs, Nigeria
MeSH terms
Abortion, Induced, Adult, Female, Humans, Nigeria, Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Unwanted, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Multivariate Analysis, Chi-Square Distribution, Logistic Models

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