Epidemiology of unsafe abortion related maternal health complications and disabilities in Western Uganda

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Date
2013-12
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Publisher
Kampala International University; School of Health Sciences
Abstract
Unsafe abortion is a public health, sexual and reproductive health problem affecting so many women globally yet it is neglected. It has led to the death of many women, leaving others with both long term and short te1m complications and disabilities. The aim of the study was to determine the epidemiology and cost of management of unsafe abortion related maternal health complications and disabilities western Uganda. The study was longitudinal and employed quantitative methods. Four hundred and four patients with abo1tion complications aged 15-49 years attending gynecology clinics and wards in the selected referral hospitals were enrolled. Purposive sampling was used to select the hospitals. Data was collected using case record forms. Analysis of data was done using epidata 3.0 data base and SPSS version 16.0. Out of the 404 patients, 20.3% (1 in 5 cases that reported in the hospitals) had induced abortion related complications resulting from induced (intended) unsafe abortion. Young (15-24 years) women had a higher tendency of inducing abortion (65.9%). Age, marital status, socio-economic status and level of education were identified as associated factors for induced unsafe abortion. The fatality rate from induced abortion was 1 death in 82 cases and 3 women out of 82 who induce abortion survived death but with permanent disability of hysterectomy. The mean cost (sundries and drugs) for managing a patient with induced abortion related complications was 1.6 times higher than that for spontaneous abortion. 82.9% of the patients who had induced abortions were not using family planning when they got pregnant and 17.1% had family planning failure. From The findings, it is strongly recommend that Public health practitioners and policy makers need to take on the role of legal or political advocates to establish policy for safe induced abortion.
Description
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Public Health of Kampala International University
Keywords
Epidemiology of unsafe abortion, Maternal health complications, Disabilities, Uganda
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