Morbidity and mortality due to induced abortions: A 5-year review of cases in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Context: - There is evidence that doctors now perform a high proportion of induced abortions in Nigeria. There is therefore a need to assess the current status of morbidity from induced abortionAim: To determine the socio-demographic characteristics of patients with complications of induced abortions, type of complications and outcome of care.Methods: all cases of complications of induced abortions admitted at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha Nigeria between January 2004 and December 2008 were the subjects of this study. The case notes of the patients werereviewed to obtain information on the socio demographic characteristics of the patients, contraceptive usage, type of complications, and the outcome of care.Results: There were 1,048 gynaecological admissions during the study period with 84(8.0%) admitted for complications of induced abortions. The mean age of the patients was 23.0 years, 56.8% were single nulliparouswomen and 47.1% were students. The gestational age at abortion ranged between 4 and 16 weeks with a mean of 9.9 weeks ( SD=3.6). The abortion was carried out in private health institutions in 81.1% of cases. Retained product of conception(85.4 %) ,sepsis (55.4%) and haemorrhage (35.1%) were the most common complications. There were 3 maternal deaths, given a case fatality rate of 4.1%, and 13.Conclusion: The pattern of complication of induced abortion has changed with a reduction in the proportion of patients with sepsis and the case fatality.Key Words: Induced Abortions; Socio-demographic characteristics, complications, morbidity; mortalit