Unsafe Second- Trimester Medical Abortion in Rural Practice: Declining Child Sex Ratio could it be Allarming Outcome?

• Author Details:   
• Meena Armo
• Kavita Babbar

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Objective: To determine the factors responsible for maternal morbidity and mortality in women who underwent an unsafe second-trimester medical abortion so that it would help health professionals to revise abortion policies and practices to reduce it.
Method: A retrospective record based data analysis was performed on patients with history of unsafe second-trimester medical abortion carried out at location other than our college hospital, during the period of June 2009 to May 2014.
Results: Out of 758 cases of abortion observed, 123 (16.22%) women had undergone an unsafe second-trimester medical abortion and admitted in obstetrics & gynaecology department with complications. Majority of patients were rural, illiterate, from very low socioeconomic background. Most frequent complain for admission was severe bleeding. The most common reason for the termination was unintended pregnancy. Of total 123, 19(15.44%) women sought abortion due to sex preference. Majority of provider were either paramedics or quacks. Complications observed in 86(69.91%) cases. Majority of 101(82.11%) patients required surgical interventions. Of total, 4 (3.25%) patients couldn’t survive despite of all resuscitative measures.
Conclusion: Abortion right as well as safe abortion service is still a distant dream in rural areas of our state. Declining sex ratio could be an alarming sign which needs immediate attention and action.

Keywords: Unsafe medical abortion, second-trimester, maternal morbidity, child sex ratio