title: Pattern of abortion care in a tertiary level maternity hospital in Nepal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complications from unsafe abortion are believed to account for the largest proportion of hospital admissions for gynaecological services in developing countries and not to mention the cost it imparts to the health system of a country. Therefore, it is equally important to find out the prevalence and the pattern of abortion among the women who utilize the safe abortion care services and provide a framework to target various health promotion programs including safe-motherhood and reproductive health; such that the future interventions to avoid the unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion can be implemented accordingly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Social and demographic information of all the women seeking induced abortions from January 2011 to December 2012 were included and the result was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abortion contributed to about 1.68% of the total patient served in the hospital that provides both obstetrical and gynecological services. Of the total 4830 patients who underwent induced abortion in this period, the mean age was 27, 92.3% were from the Kathmandu valley and more than one-third women (35.2%) were illiterate who couldn't read and write. Majorities were more than two parity and belonged to higher caste.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The socio-demographic profile of the abortion clients in Nepal has remained similar over the years. We need to address the accessibility and availability to the safe abortion care services along with other safe motherhood programs guaranteeing access to safe abortion and post-abortion care to all group of women and also, women education regarding contraception to avoid repeated abortions or unwanted pregnancy in the future.
authors.affiliation: Maternity Hospital, Kathmandu.
authors.forename: Punya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paudel
authors.affiliation: B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan.
authors.forename: Luna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paudel
authors.affiliation: Alka Hospital, Kathmandu.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhochhibhoya
authors.affiliation: Maternity Hospital, Kathmandu.
authors.forename: Sapana Amatya
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vaidhya
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: Nabina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: xenoMED Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: Dipendra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khatiwada
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D012923:Social Class; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult