title: Report: a study of morbidity of induced abortion data from women belonging to Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morbidity of induced abortion in relation to facilities, service providers and social responses of general population of women, from Karachi, Pakistan. Cross-sectional survey, conducted from February to December 2010, through a researcher-administered questionnaire from 61 randomly selected women, who underwent for Induced Abortion, aged 18-50 years. The questionnaire included open and closed ended questions, regarding demography, facilities, service providers and various complications observed. Overall, 98 immediate health problems were reported by 40 (65.5%) of the respondents, 153 late adverse effects or chronic by 46 (75.4%); while 101 mental complications had been reported by 45 (73.8%) of the 61 aborting women; respectively. Private clinics surfaced as the most frequently adopted source as reported by 40.7% of the respondents. Two third majorities had the procedure in satisfactory, good hygienic conditions by skilled professionals. Around 59% of the aborting women were aware of the religious perspective of the subject. Marked incidence of complications had been registered, regardless of type of method adopted, hygienic condition of the procedure or skill of the provider. Although, awareness of religious perspective of the subject was there, still quite a lot opted for abortion. This suggests that strong socioeconomic factors influence women to take peril of such an attempt. It also reveals the existence of a big gap for the awareness services for educating the risks involved to the women's health. Study revealed that services are easily accessible; without any legal, religious or social barriers. Semi or un-educated women, mostly from low socioeconomic sector are opting the procedure in majority, being less aware and stalwartly influenced by environmental factors; hence excessive availability of abortion services should be revisited. Lack of deep awareness of the consequences also contributes for deteriorating future reproductive and mental health. Awareness and counseling services for aborting women, for their health risks, as well as about human perspective of the issue, needs to be initiated, for better management of their reproductive health and rights.
authors.affiliation: Empirical Research Centre for Women Studies, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.affiliation: Deptartment of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aslam
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006268:Health Facilities; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult