title: The incidence of major abdominal surgery after septic abortion--an indicator of complications due to illegal abortion.
abstract: That there is a high morbidity associated with illegal abortion is well known, but its exact extent is difficult to assess, since detailed statistics are not available and the nature of the morbidity is diffuse. We have assumed that abortal sepsis is a consequence of illegal interference with pregnancy. The incidence of major abdominal surgery after a septic abortion is used as an indicator of serious complications. This incidence is compared with that following legal abortion.
mesh_terms: D000024:Abortion, Illegal; D000031:Abortion, Septic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007813:Laparotomy; D011247:Pregnancy; D013019:South Africa