Unsafe abortions in a developing country: has liberalisation of laws on abortions made a difference?
Unsafe abortion is still a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in Africa. To assess whether the introduction of legal abortions in South Africa has decreased admissions resulting from mid-trimester abortions, a prospective study of abortion cases admitted to the King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa, over a four-month period was carried out. Two hundred and four women were admitted with incomplete abortion; 49% of which were spontaneous, 17% certainly induced, 10% probably induced, 18% possibly induced and 4.3% legally induced. A change in the laws on termination of pregnancy (TOP) has resulted in a decrease in cases of incomplete abortion being admitted to the gynaecological wards. However, illegal TOPs are still prevalent for a variety of reasons. There is need to place more emphasis on the delivery of efficient contraceptive services and reproductive health education for women.
Moodley
J
J
MRC/UN Pregnancy Hypertension Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa. gynae@med.und.ac.za
Akinsooto
V S
VS
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D003267:Contraception; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies