Maternal deaths in induced abortion

ABSTRACT

This paper is based on two studies earned out 12 years apart in a large teaching hospital. It covers 81 induced abortions admitted during a period of 2 years and 9 months; these formed 2.34% of a total of 3462 abortions admitted during both the study periods. Of the 81 women with induced abortions, 21 [25,93%] were admitted with visceral injury [mainly uterine perforation with or without bowel injury], 34 [41.98%] with haemorrhage, and 23 [28.39%] with sepsis. Thirteen [16.05%] women died; 8 as a result of visceral injury and 5 due sepsis. These deaths formed 12.62% of the total 103 maternal deaths which occurred during the two periods under study