Factors associated with complications in women presenting with abortion in Mulago Hospital Emergency Gynecological ward

Abstract

Abortion complications are a common cause of maternal morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Maternal mortality from abortion is well studied, but other abortion complications are not documented, especially in Uganda. This study aimed at finding out the magnitude of complications in women presenting with abortions and factors associated with these complications in Uganda. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed at determining prevalence of complications among women who present with abortions and factors associated with these complications in Uganda. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study STUDY SETTING: The study was carried out in mulago hospital emergency gynaecological ward. Mulago hospital is the main national referral hospital in Uganda and is a teaching centre for makerere university medical school. METHODS: A total of 273 women who presented with abortion were treated and recruited into the study. Participants were interviewed, socio demographic and pregnancy information was recorded, and presented abortion complications were also recorded. Statistical analysis was done to assess for association between possible risk factors and complications. RESULTS: The prevalence of complications among women with abortions was 33.7% with most common complications being septic abortions (46.7%) and serve haemorrhage (41.3%). Gestational age above 12 weeks at abortion (p=0.001), non medical person inducing the abortion (p=0.000) and time taken to seek treatment after abortion (p=0.028) were the significant factors associated with complications presented by the participants. CONCLUSIONS: Complications are common in women presenting with abortions in mulago hospital, the most common being septic incomplete abortions and severe haemorrhage. Close to 18% of the patients with complications were adolescents. Gestational age above 12 weeks at time of abortion, non medical providers who induced the abortion and delay of more than 2 weeks in seeking treatment after experiencing an abortion were the significant factors associated with abortion complications. RECOMMENDATIONS: From the results of this study, it was recommended that adequate resources and importance should be given to the abortion complications in mulago hospital, reproductive health services should take special focus on adolescents as a group at risk for unwanted pregnancies and the ministry of health and reproductive health stakeholders should address the problem of unsafe abortions, review policies and put up new strategies to prevent abortions.