Factors Associated with Severe Complications in Unsafe Abortion
Sukanya Srinil MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Khon Kaen Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : To assess factors associated with severe complications in unsafe abortion and to compare the complications in
unsafe abortions with spontaneous or therapeutic induced abortion at Khon Kaen Hospital.
Material and Method: Four hundred sixty two medical records with the diagnosis of abortion at Khon Kaen Hospital
between January and December 2008 were reviewed. Patient characteristics, complications and treatment outcomes were
collected. The complications from abortion were classified into mild and severe group. Qualitative data were presented as
frequencies and percentage. Comparison data was analyzed by using Pearson Chi-square test.
Results : Out of 462 cases of abortion observed over the study period, 170 (36.8%) women had undergone an unsafe
abortion. Twenty-seven (16%) women had severe complications and included 18 cases with hemorrhage requiring blood
transfusions (66.6%), 17 cases with shock (63%), six cases with acute renal failure (22.2%), two cases with sepsis with DIC
(7.4%) and two death cases. Ninety-five women (56%) in the unsafe abortion did not use any contraception. When compared
between the mild and severe complication in the unsafe abortion group, there were statistical differences in the marital status,
level of education and the method used (p = 0.003, p = 0.019, p < 0.001, respectively). Severe complications from unsafe
abortion more frequently occurred in married, low educated women where intrauterine chemical injection was the most often
used.
Conclusion : The unsafe abortion had more severe complications than the spontaneous or therapeutic abortion, which had
affected the women’s health. Level of education, marital status, and method used were factors associated with severe
complications in unsafe abortion.
Keywords : Unsafe abortion, Complication, Factor
