The Cost of Abortion

ABSTRACT

The cost of abortion in 20 patients with unsafe abortion were compared with 40 patients each of spontaneous abortion and spontaneous vaginal delivery. The mean duration of hospital stay was 1.95 days, 2.8 days and 12.9 days-while antibiotic usage was 52, 82 and 100 percent respectively in normal deliveries, spontaneous abortions and unsafe abortions. Intravenous infusions and blood transfusions were used in 80 percent and 35 percent of unsafe abortion patients. Evacuation of the uterus was performed in 82 percent if spontaneous abortion patients and 35 percent with unsafe abortion while 40 percent of the latter required operative drainage of pus. The cost of unsafe abortion was calculated as expenditure before admission and costs and loss of income during hospitalization. The average total costs bome by patients with unsafe abortion was Kyats 2480/-. Hospital costs for unsafe abortion at Kyats 1431/- were twice as much as the comparison groups.