Authors : Chaitra Narasimha, Sudha R
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijogr.2023.013
Volume : 10
Issue : 1
Year : 2023
Page No : 63-66
Background: The recent years have seen rise in unintended pregnancy which includes unwanted and mistimed pregnancy. Despite the conducive environment of legal abortion in India through MTP Act, many women resort to unsafe methods of abortion. In India, estimated abortions in 2015 were 15.6 million. The overall rate of abortion was estimated to be 4.8%, among which 67.1% of abortions were classified to be unsafe. Thus, the aim of the study is to analyze the demographic profile of patients, reason for seeking abortion and evaluation of significant adverse outcome and management.
Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based observation study carried out in the department of OBG in MMC&RI, Mysuru during the period January 2019 to December 2020. 100 women seeking MTP and 100 women presenting to hospital for help following the consumption of over the counter pills were included in the study.
Results: 100 women with self-consumption of pills presented to hospital with complaints of heavy bleeding (35%), spotting PV (22%) and pain abdomen (15%). Most were married, belonging to lower socioeconomic status with age of 21-25 years (42%), followed by 26 – 30 years (22%). In 100 women seeking MTP, congenital fetal anomalies (51%) was the main indication, followed by contraception failure (36%). In comparison to the women seeking abortion services under medical supervision, the complication rates were higher in unsupervised group. This included retained products of conception (25%), moderate anemia (12%), severe anemia (7%), shock (3%), sepsis (4%) requiring surgical evacuation (51%), medical management (46%), anemia correction (17%), ICU admission (7%) and emergency laparotomy (3%).
Conclusion: The cornerstone is motivation and encouragement of women to adapt family planning services to reduce unintended pregnancy. For women needing these services, accessibility and comprehensive education regarding unsafe abortion is needed. Legislation and strict policy is required for the use of MTP pills, so as to reduce the sales without prescription.
Keywords: Unsafe abortions, MTP, Unintended pregnancy, Family planning.