Monograph on complications of unsafe abortion in Africa.

In 1994 the Commonwealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for east central and southern Africa conducted a study to substantiate the extent of abortion complications in the region during 1980-1994. In some countries as many as 76% of hospital gynecology admissions are incomplete abortion patients. Thus unsafe abortion is a significant public health problem. Hemorrhage and sepsis are the leading complications of abortion. There is limited information on the cost of treating abortion complications. Manual vacuum aspiration an effective and safe method of emptying the uterus reduces the cost for treating incomplete abortion cases by 66% when compared to sharp curettage. According to the limited information that exists in the literature on mens role men do play a minor role in a womans decision to end a pregnancy. They may provide financial support however. Most women suffering from unsafe abortion complications either do not use effective contraception or use no contraception. There are many documents on the legal aspects of abortion. There are no documents on postabortion family planning services. Unsafe methods of induced abortion (e.g. traditional methods) cause serious injuries and death. Treatment of abortion complications are costly for health care systems. Concerns about side effects and lack of access to and information about family planning services are the major obstacles to contraceptive use. Abortion laws tend to be restrictive which encourages illegal unsafe abortions. The administrative requirements for legal abortion diminishes access to safe legal abortion.