Medico-Legal Update
  • Year: 2012
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 2

Critical Appraisal of Unsafe Abortions in Western Orissa: A Hospital Based Study

  • Author:
  • Arun Kumar Singh1, Lavlesh Kumar2, Binaya Kumar Bastia3
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • Page Number: 90 to 93

1Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Alluri Sitaram Raju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh

2Associate Professor, Forensic Medicine, S B K S Medical Institute & Research Center, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

3Professor, Forensic Medicine, S B K S Medical Institute & Research Center, Sumandeep Vidyapeeth, Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Online published on 17 November, 2012.

Abstract

Unsafe abortion continues to contribute to the maternal mortality trends in rural India. Literature regarding the characteristics of cases from Orissa is scant impeding formulation of a preventive strategy.

Sixty consecutive cases of complicated unsafe abortion referred to a maternity hospital in rural Orissa, India. Hospital records of these patients are analyzed with respect to epidemiological characteristics.

Retrospective study of hospital records.

Unsafe abortion is common among married and multiparous women, of low socioeconomic status in the age group of 21–30 years. Timely intervention provided good cure rate.

Adequate information and counseling regarding Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act at the hospital level and other multipronged measures may help reducing the rate of septic abortions.

Keywords

Unsafe Abortion, Criminal Abortion, Medical Termination of Pregnancy, Maternal Mortality Rate