ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of maternal morbidity and death from pregnancy loss before 28 weeks in referral-level hospitals in Nigeria. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional study. SETTING: Fifty-four referral-level hospitals. POPULATION: Women admitted for complications arising from pregnancy loss before 28 weeks between 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020. METHODS: Frequency and type of pregnancy loss were calculated using the extracted data. Multilevel logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with early pregnancy loss. Factors contributing to death were also analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and outcome of pregnancy loss at <28 weeks; sociodemographic and clinical predictors of morbidity after early pregnancy loss; contributory factors to death. RESULTS: Of the 4798 women who had pregnancy loss at <28 weeks of pregnancy, spontaneous abortion accounted for 49.2%, followed by missed abortion (26.9%) and ectopic pregnancy (15%). Seven hundred women (14.6%) had a complication following pregnancy loss and 99 women died (2.1%). Most complications (26%) and deaths (7%) occurred after induced abortion. Haemorrhage was the most frequent complication in all types of pregnancy loss with 11.5% in molar pregnancy and 6.9% following induced abortion. Predictors of complication or death were low maternal education, husband who was not gainfully employed, grand-multipara, pre-existing chronic medical condition and referral from another facility or informal setting. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy loss before 28 weeks is a significant contributor to high maternal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Socio-economic factors and delays in referral to higher levels of care contribute significantly to poor outcomes for women.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Spontaneous , Maternal Mortality , Humans , Female , Nigeria/epidemiology , Pregnancy , Adult , Abortion, Spontaneous/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Prevalence , Young Adult , Risk Factors , Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Abortion, Induced/adverse effects , Abortion, Induced/mortalityABSTRACT
Importance: Prior observational research has shown that infants born in states with more abortion restrictions are more likely to die during infancy. It is unclear how recent and more severe abortion bans in the US have impacted infant mortality. Objective: To examine whether Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB8), which banned abortions after embryonic cardiac activity and did not allow exemptions for congenital anomalies, is associated with infant mortality in the state of Texas. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study of all recorded infant deaths from the state of Texas and 28 comparison states used a comparative interrupted time series analysis with an augmented synthetic control approach and national birth certificate data from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022, to estimate the difference between the number of observed and expected infant and neonatal deaths and death rates among monthly cohorts exposed to Texas' SB8. Exposure: Deaths in March 2022 were treated as the first cohort exposed to the Texas' SB8 abortion policy because these infants (if born full term) were approximately 10 to 14 weeks' gestation when SB8 went into effect on September 1, 2021. The exposure period was thus March through December 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: Our outcomes were monthly counts and rates of infant (aged <1 year) and neonatal (aged <28 days) deaths in the exposure period in Texas. In secondary analyses, annual changes in cause-specific infant deaths between 2021 and 2022 in Texas and the rest of the US were examined. Results: Between 2018 and 2022, there were 102â¯391 infant deaths in the US, with 10â¯351 of these deaths occurring in the state of Texas. Between 2021 and 2022, infant deaths in Texas increased from 1985 to 2240, or 255 additional deaths. This corresponds to a 12.9% increase, whereas the rest of the US experienced a comparatively lower 1.8% increase. On the basis of the counterfactual analysis that used data from Texas and eligible comparison states, an excess of 216 infant deaths (95% CI, -122 to 554) was observed from March to December 2022, or a 12.7% increase above expectation. At the monthly level, significantly greater-than-expected counts were observed for 4 months between March and December 2022: April, July, September, and October. An analysis of neonatal deaths found somewhat similar patterns, with significantly greater-than-expected neonatal deaths in April and October 2022. Descriptive statistics by cause of death showed that infant deaths attributable to congenital anomalies in 2022 increased more for Texas (22.9% increase) but not the rest of the US (3.1% decrease). Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that Texas' 2021 ban on abortion in early pregnancy was associated with unexpected increases in infant and neonatal deaths in Texas between 2021 and 2022. Congenital anomalies, which are the leading cause of infant death, also increased in Texas but not the rest of the US. Although replication and further analyses are needed to understand the mechanisms behind these findings, the results suggest that restrictive abortion policies may have important unintended consequences in terms of trauma to families and medical cost as a result of increases in infant mortality. These findings are particularly relevant given the recent Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization US Supreme Court decision and subsequent rollbacks of reproductive rights in many US states.
Subject(s)
Infant Mortality , Humans , Texas/epidemiology , Female , Pregnancy , Infant Mortality/trends , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Cohort Studies , Abortion, Legal/legislation & jurisprudence , Abortion, Legal/statistics & numerical data , Abortion, Induced/legislation & jurisprudence , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Interrupted Time Series AnalysisSubject(s)
Infant Mortality , Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Texas/epidemiology , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Abortion, Induced/legislation & jurisprudence , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Abortion, Legal/legislation & jurisprudence , Abortion, Legal/statistics & numerical dataSubject(s)
Child Mortality , Infant Mortality , Humans , United States/epidemiology , Infant , Female , Pregnancy , Child Mortality/trends , Infant Mortality/trends , Child , Abortion, Induced/legislation & jurisprudence , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Child, PreschoolABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess the causes of maternal mortality at a referral hospital in Rwanda. METHODS: A secondary data analysis of 217 women with recorded maternal mortality from 2017 to 2019 was conducted among 11,308 total maternal admissions. Demographics, diagnosis, management, referring hospital source, and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The mean (±SD) age of maternal death was 30.7±7.2 years (range 16-57 years). The overall maternal mortality rate was 1.99%, with yearly rates of 2.45%, 2.53%, and 1.84% in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. A significant seasonal variation was noted. Sepsis was the most common cause of maternal death (50%), followed by hemorrhage (19%) and hypertensive disorders (15%). Causes of maternal deaths included preeclampsia (13%) and abortion (8%). Furthermore, 82% of all the deaths were referrals from smaller community hospitals. CONCLUSION: Maternal death due to sepsis remain a major cause of maternal deaths in Rwanda. Infection prevention and the early diagnosis and management of sepsis must be a priority in reducing maternal mortality.
Subject(s)
Cause of Death , Maternal Mortality , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Spontaneous/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hemorrhage/mortality , Hospitals , Humans , Hypertension/mortality , Middle Aged , Pre-Eclampsia/mortality , Pregnancy , Retrospective Studies , Rwanda/epidemiology , Sepsis/mortality , Young AdultABSTRACT
Objectives. To examine associations between state-level variation in abortion-restricting policies in 2015 and total maternal mortality (TMM), maternal mortality (MM), and late maternal mortality (LMM) from 2015 to 2018 in the United States. Methods. We derived an abortion policy composite index for each state based on 8 state-level abortion-restricting policies. We fit ecological state-level generalized linear Poisson regression models with robust standard errors to estimate 4-year TMM, MM, and LMM rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with a 1-unit increase in the abortion index, adjusting for state-level covariates. Results. States with the higher score of abortion policy composite index had a 7% increase in TMM (adjusted rate ratio [ARR] = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.12) compared with states with lower abortion policy composite index, after we adjusted for state-level covariates. Among individual abortion policies, states with a licensed physician requirement had a 51% higher TMM (ARR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.15, 1.99) and a 35% higher MM (ARR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.09, 1.67), and states with restrictions on Medicaid coverage of abortion care had a 29% higher TMM (ARR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.61). Conclusions. Restricting access to abortion care at the state level may increase the risk for TMM.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Legal/mortality , Contraception Behavior/statistics & numerical data , Maternal Death/statistics & numerical data , Abortion, Legal/statistics & numerical data , Female , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Maternal Mortality/trends , State Government , United StatesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Abortions remain one of the highest contributors to maternal deaths in Ghana. In 2003, a policy on post-abortion care was introduced to help reduce abortion-related mortality and morbidity. However, depending on the method of pregnancy termination; women encounter varying experiences. This study examines the experiences of women seeking post-abortion care services in a Regional Hospital in Ghana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-depth interview technique was used to collect data from 20 purposively selected post-abortion care clients at the Volta Regional Hospital. Data were analysed manually using a qualitative content analysis technique. RESULTS: The study found that medical abortion was the main method of pregnancy termination used by women who participated in the study to induce abortion. Spontaneous abortion, however, was attributed mainly to engaging in activities that required the use of excessive energy and travelling on bad roads by pregnant women. The study also revealed that, women do not seek early post-abortion care services due to stigma and poverty. CONCLUSIONS: We found that severity of pain from complications, stigma and financial constraints were factors that influenced women's decision to seek post-abortion care services. Our findings also suggest that women who experienced spontaneous abortion mainly received financial and emotional support from partners and other family members. To encourage women to seek early post-abortion care services, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service should take pragmatic steps to educate women on the dangers associated with delay in seeking post-abortion care services and the factors that expose women to spontaneous abortions.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Induced/psychology , Aftercare/psychology , Aftercare/trends , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Induced/trends , Adolescent , Adult , Aftercare/methods , Decision Making/ethics , Female , Ghana/epidemiology , Humans , Poverty/psychology , Poverty/trends , Pregnancy , Pregnancy, Unwanted/psychology , Social Stigma , Young AdultSubject(s)
Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Maternal Mortality/trends , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Legal , Maternal Death/etiology , UruguayABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: clandestine abortions increase maternal morbi-mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and are closely linked to restrictive legislation and low contraceptive prevalence. In Brazzaville street drugs are commonly used to induce abortion. The purpose of this study is to determine street drug prevalence and socio-demographic characteristics of these patients. METHODS: we conducted a longitudinal study of 67 patients with induced abortion complications admitted to the Talangaï Hospital from July to December 2018. (i) Socio-demographic (ii) and obstetrical (iii) characteristics as well as abortion features (procedure, Manganguiste involvement, abortion rank and cost) were collected and analyzed using EPI info 7 software. We compared the means using student's test, proportions with CHI-2, p value was set to < 0.05. RESULTS: the average age of patients was 25 years ± 6.6; 59.7% of them were attending college, 53.8% had no income-generating activity, 38.8% lived alone and in 15% of cases biological father had denied paternity. Street drugs had been used in 74.5% of cases, mean abortion cost was 3500 CFA (US$7) and 29500CFA (US$59) when it had been performed by health-care professionals. High school respondents were more likely (73.69%) to know at least contraceptive methods (p<0.05). Greater numbers of singles (p=0.000) and of those who knew a contraceptive method (p=0.003) expressed the intention to use contraception. Conclusion: combatting the use of street drugs and securing the right to safe voluntary abortion are necessary to limit complications due to clandestine abortions.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Criminal/adverse effects , Abortion, Criminal/statistics & numerical data , Abortion, Induced/adverse effects , Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Illicit Drugs , Abortion, Criminal/mortality , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Congo/epidemiology , Educational Status , Female , Humans , Illicit Drugs/supply & distribution , Longitudinal Studies , Maternal Mortality , Morbidity , Parity , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Identification of health problems of women of reproductive age, using a reliable mortality data, is essential in evading preventable female deaths. This study aimed at investigating mortality profile of women of reproductive age group in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive, retrospective study involving women of reproductive age group of 15-49 years that died at DELSUTH from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2018. The age, date of death and cause of death were retrieved from the hospital records and subsequently analyzed using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-seven eligible deaths were encountered in this study, constituting 17.5% of all deaths in the hospital. Twenty four (12.8%) cases were of maternal etiology while 163 (87.2%) were of non-maternal causes. Non-communicable disease, communicable disease and external injuries accounted for 100 (53.5%), 44 (23.5%) and 19 (10.2%) deaths among the non-maternal causes. The mean age and the peak age group are 34.4 years and the 4th decade respectively. The leading specified non-maternal causes of death (in descending order) are AIDS/TB, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), breast cancer, road traffic accident (RTA), diabetes, perioperative death and sepsis while the leading maternal causes of death are abortion, postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia and puerperal sepsis. CONCLUSION: Most deaths affecting WRAG are preventable, with non-maternal causes in excess of maternal causes. There is need for holistic life-long interventional policies and strategies that will address the health need of these women, using evidence-based research findings.
Subject(s)
Hospital Mortality , Hospitals/statistics & numerical data , Maternal Mortality , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Breast Neoplasms/mortality , Cause of Death/trends , Eclampsia/mortality , Female , HIV Infections/mortality , Humans , Maternal Mortality/trends , Middle Aged , Nigeria/epidemiology , Obstetric Labor Complications/mortality , Postpartum Hemorrhage/mortality , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/mortality , Puerperal Infection/mortality , Retrospective Studies , Sepsis/mortality , Stroke , Tuberculosis/mortality , Young AdultABSTRACT
AIMS OF THE STUDY: Based on an incidental observation made in the context of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Project 67 “End-of-life decision-making in extremely low birth weight infants in Switzerland”, this retrospective multicentre observational study aimed to analyse circumstances of delivery room deaths after late termination of pregnancy (LTOP) in Switzerland over a 3-year period. METHODS: All delivery room deaths (including live and stillbirths) following LTOP among infants with a gestational age between 22 0/7 and 27 6/7 weeks at the nine Swiss level III perinatal centres between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2015 were analysed. Indications for LTOP were classified as either (a) maternal emergencies or (b) fetal anomalies severe enough to cause significant maternal psychological distress. Whenever possible, specific diagnoses were recorded. Spontaneous intrapartum death and fetal death caused by injection of a cardioplegic drug were distinguished for stillborn infants. RESULTS: A total of 465 delivery room deaths among extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs) were identified over the 3-year study period of the SNSF project. Of these, 195 (42%) occurred in the context of LTOP. Central nervous system malformations, chromosomal anomalies, severe congenital heart disease, multiple malformations and maternal emergencies accounted for 70% of all LTOPs. LTOPs resulted in live births in 76 (39%) cases. No correlation between gestational age and rate of live births was observed. Fetal death caused by injection of a cardioplegic drug was documented in only three cases. All infants born alive after LTOP died in the delivery room without resuscitation attempts. The use of drugs for palliative care in these patients was either rare or, alternatively, incompletely documented. CONCLUSION: LTOPs contribute significantly to mortality rates among ELGANs and should therefore be included in perinatal registries. Uniform reporting of LTOPs should be established. Infants born alive after LTOP are entitled to comprehensive palliative care like any other infant born under different circumstances. Development of national guidelines for LTOPs (including the role of fetal death caused by injection of a cardioplegic drug and palliative birth as an alternative to induced abortion) would be highly desirable to guarantee acceptable standards of care.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Congenital Abnormalities/mortality , Pregnancy Complications/surgery , Stillbirth , Cardioplegic Solutions/therapeutic use , Death , Decision Making , Female , Gestational Age , Hospitals, Maternity , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Pregnancy Trimester, Third , Retrospective Studies , Switzerland/epidemiologyABSTRACT
To characterise patients with abortion in Huambo, Angola, we have undertaken a descriptive, longitudinal, prospective survey. A structured questionnaire was applied to 715 patients. The study variables were grouped in socio-demographic and clinical-epidemiological variables. There were 29.8% women were aged 20-24, 45.6% had primary education, 41.1% were single and 26.9% worked as a non-formal salesperson. Menarche occurred at 16-18 years (55.5%), first sexual intercourse at 13-15 years (40.3%) and 74.8% did not use contraceptive methods. Abortion was of indeterminate type in 84.3% and 79.3% had had a previous abortion. Serious complications occurred in 8.0% with six maternal deaths (0.8%). Age of menarche and age at onset of sexual activity are interdependent variables (p ≤ .001), the earlier menarche appears, the earlier sexual activity begins. When there was a history of abortion, new abortions occurred earlier (p ≤ .001) and were of indeterminate type (89%). Indeterminate induced abortion is influenced by socioeconomic, educational and political conditions and continues to be a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Unsafe abortion contributes greatly to maternal morbidity and mortality, principally in countries with restrictive abortion laws. The relationship between socio-educational level and unwanted pregnancies is consensual.What the results of this study add? Early initiation of sexual activity combined with non-contraception contributes to unwanted pregnancy and consequent unsafe abortion. Most of the women had previously had an abortion.What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It is necessary to develop access to adequate information and family planning to combat unwanted pregnancies. It is also important to evaluate long-term consequences of unsafe abortion.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Induced , Family Planning Services , Reproductive Health Services/standards , Women's Health , Abortion, Induced/adverse effects , Abortion, Induced/legislation & jurisprudence , Abortion, Induced/methods , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Angola/epidemiology , Contraception/statistics & numerical data , Family Planning Services/methods , Family Planning Services/organization & administration , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy, Unwanted , Sex Education/standards , Socioeconomic Factors , Women's Health/economics , Women's Health/standards , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe the Italian Obstetric Surveillance System (ItOSS) investigating maternal death through incident case reporting and confidential enquiries. METHODS: All maternal deaths occurred in any public and private health facility in 8 Italian regions covering 73% of national births have been notified to the ItOSS. Every incident case is confidentially reviewed to assess quality of care and establish the cause and avoidability of the death. FINDINGS: A total of 106 maternal deaths among 1 455 545 live births have been notified to the surveillance system in 2013-17. Haemorrhage, sepsis and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the leading causes of direct maternal deaths due to obstetric causes. CONCLUSIONS: A maternal mortality surveillance system, including incidence reporting and confidential enquiries along with a retrospective analysis of administrative data sources, emerged as the best option for case ascertainment and for preventing avoidable maternal deaths.
Subject(s)
Maternal Mortality , Population Surveillance , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Adult , Cause of Death , Cesarean Section/mortality , Death Certificates , Emergencies , Emigrants and Immigrants , Female , Humans , Incidence , Italy/epidemiology , Medical Record Linkage , Population Surveillance/methods , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/mortality , Prospective Studies , Puerperal Disorders/mortality , Reproductive Techniques, Assisted/mortalityABSTRACT
Complications from spontaneous and induced abortion are a primary cause of death of women in sub-Saharan Africa. Le Réseau d'Afrique Centrale pour la Santé Reproductive des Femmes: Gabon, Cameroun, Guinée Équatoriale (the Middle African Network for Women's Reproductive Health, or GCG as it is commonly known) was founded in 2009 to identify and overcome obstacles to post-abortion care in Gabon. Research identified the main obstacle as lack of emergency skills and provisions among first-line health care providers. To fill the lacuna, GCG designed a program to train midwives in manual vacuum aspiration (MVA), misoprostol protocols, and the insertion of T-shaped copper IUDs. This article presents a nine-year retrospective (2009-2018) of the program. Qualitative and quantitative results confirm correlations between midwives' practice of MVA in health centers and spectacular decreases in treatment delays, with corresponding decreases in mortality from abortion complications. Our findings also demonstrate how these advances have been threatened by opposition to midwife practice in certain urban medical centers despite encouragement by the Gabon Ministry of Health to use the new protocols. Women's human right to the highest attainable standard of health, including access to safe abortion, is an assumption that GCG shares with the 40 African countries that have ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. The training program illustrates how a direct-action strategy can fully equip medical practitioners, especially those in peripheral sites with meager resources, to provide emergency post-abortion and abortion care even before governments legislate their human rights commitment.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Induced/mortality , Midwifery/education , Reproductive Health , Women's Health , Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal/administration & dosage , Adult , Female , Gabon , Human Rights , Humans , Intrauterine Devices , Misoprostol/administration & dosage , Pregnancy , Retrospective Studies , Vacuum Extraction, ObstetricalSubject(s)
Abortion, Induced/mortality , Abortion, Legal , Health Services Accessibility/economics , Supreme Court Decisions , Abortion, Induced/adverse effects , Abortion, Induced/history , Female , Health Services Accessibility/legislation & jurisprudence , History, 20th Century , Humans , Pregnancy , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Importance: Over the past 2 decades, there has been a trend toward increasing maternal age in many high-income countries. Maternal age may lead to greater attendant morbidity and mortality for Canadian mothers. Objective: To investigate the association of maternal age, adjusting for patient-level and hospital-level factors, with severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and maternal death in Canada. Design, Setting, and Participants: A nationwide population-based cohort study of all antepartum, peripartum, and postpartum women and adolescents seen at Canadian acute care hospitals from April 1, 2004, to March 31, 2015. All analyses were completed on September 13, 2018. Exposures: Maternal age at the index delivery. Main Outcomes and Measures: Severe maternal morbidity and maternal death during pregnancy and within 6 weeks after termination of pregnancy. Results: During the study period, there were 3â¯162â¯303 new pregnancies (mean [SD] maternal age, 29.5 [5.6] years) and 3â¯533â¯259 related hospital admissions. There were 54â¯219 episodes of SMM (17.7 cases per 1000 deliveries) in the entire study period, with a 9.8% relative increase from 2004-2005 to 2014-2015, in addition to an increasing proportion of pregnancies to older mothers. Independent patient-level factors associated with SMM included increasing Maternal Comorbidity Index; maternal age 19 years or younger and 30 years or older, with the greatest risk experienced by women 45 years or older (odds ratio [OR], 2.69; 95% CI, 2.34-3.06 compared with maternal age 20-24 years); and lowest income quintile (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.14-1.22 compared with highest income quintile). Hospital-level factors associated with SMM included specific provinces. Independent patient-level factors associated with maternal mortality included increasing Maternal Comorbidity Index, age 40 to 44 years (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 1.68-6.82 compared with age 20-24 years), age 45 years or older (OR, 4.39; 95% CI, 1.01-19.10 compared with age 20-24 years), and lowest income quintile (OR, 4.14; 95% CI, 2.03-8.50 compared with highest income quintile). Hospital-level factors associated with maternal mortality included lowest hospital pregnancy volume. Conclusions and Relevance: In Canada, maternal age and SMM have increased over the past decade. Results of this study suggest that province of residence, maternal comorbidity, residence income quintile, and extremes of maternal age, especially those 45 years or older, were associated with SMM and mortality. These findings are relevant to prospective parents, their health care team, and public health planning.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Induced/mortality , Maternal Mortality/trends , Morbidity/trends , Pregnancy Complications/mortality , Abortion, Induced/adverse effects , Adolescent , Adult , Ambulatory Care Facilities/statistics & numerical data , Canada/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Child , Female , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Income/statistics & numerical data , Income/trends , Maternal Age , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Peripartum Period , Postpartum Period , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/epidemiology , Prenatal Care , Prospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Young AdultABSTRACT
The second leading cause of maternal mortality in Ghana is unsafe abortion. Research in Ghana shows that men's support influences women's use of safe abortion services. The aim of this study was to understand what men know about abortion, why they support their partners to seek an abortion, and to identify effective ways to reach men with abortion information. We conducted eleven focus groups and ten in-depth interviews with men of reproductive age in rural Ghana. Inclusion criteria were written consent, age and marital status. Focus groups and interviews were conducted in local languages using a semi-structured guide. Focus groups and interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, translated, computerised and coded for analysis. Most men knew the difference between unsafe and safe abortion and would support their partner to have an abortion. Messages that reinforce safe abortion as acceptable and that address fears of death or barrenness should be developed to educate men about safe abortion. Multiple channels to communicate these messages should be used and include pictures, video or audio for those men who cannot read. Through an intensive intervention inclusive of men, women's access to safe abortion services can be improved in Ghana.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Induced/mortality , Interpersonal Relations , Maternal Mortality , Men/psychology , Social Support , Abortion, Induced/legislation & jurisprudence , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Focus Groups , Ghana , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Pregnancy , Rural Population , Sexual Partners , Young AdultABSTRACT
A mortalidade materna é considerada um excelente indicador de saúde, não apenas da mulher, mas da população como um todo. No Brasil, a morte materna configura-se como um problema de saúde pública. Segundo o Ministério da Saúde, as altas taxas de mortalidade materna compõem um quadro de violação dos direitos humanos de mulheres e de crianças, atingindo desigualmente aquelas das classes sociais com menor ingresso e acesso aos bens sociais nas várias regiões brasileiras. O planejamento familiar, quando oferecido de forma contínua e prolongada, pode contribuir para a redução do número de gestações indesejadas, de abortos ilegais e da mortalidade materna. Trata-se de estudo de revisão sistemática de literatura do tipo exploratória com abordagem qualitativa. Após a leitura seletiva das referências, teve início a fase analítica. Realizou-se o grupamento em duas categorias temáticas, a seguir discriminadas: (1) o homem no planejamento familiar; (2) contracepção pós-abortamento e redes de cuidado. No que tange ao aborto, a participação masculina é de extrema relevância, pois a não aceitação da gravidez ou o abandono do parceiro são alguns dos motivos que levam a mulher ao aborto provocado. O cuidado integral à saúde da mulher em situações de abortamento deve incluir, além do tratamento de emergência, o acesso universal ao planejamento reprodutivo, inclusive orientações para as mulheres que desejam uma nova gestação.
Maternal mortality is considered an excellent indicator of health, not only for women but also for the population as a whole. In Brazil, maternal death is a public health problem. According to the Ministry of Health, the high rates of maternal mortality constitute a framework of violation of human rights for women and children, unequally affecting those of the lower income classes and with less access to social assets in various Brazilian regions. Family planning, when provided on a continuous and protracted basis, can contribute to reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and illegal abortions as well as maternal mortality rates. This is a systematic review of literature with a qualitative approach and exploratory nature. After selective reading of the references, the analytical phase began. The data were grouped into two thematic categories, as follows: (1) The man in family planning; (2) Post-abortion contraception and care networks. Regarding abortion, male participation is extremely relevant, and non-acceptance of pregnancy as well as partner abandonment were some of the reasons that lead women to abortion. Comprehensive care for women's health in abortion situations should include universal access to reproductive planning and guidelines for women seeking a new pregnancy, in addition to emergency treatment.
La mortalidad materna se considera un excelente indicador de salud no solo de la mujer, sino de la población como un todo. En Brasil, la muerte materna se configura como un problema de salud pública. Según el Ministerio de Salud, las altas tasas de mortalidad materna componen un cuadro de violación a los derechos humanos de mujeres y de niños, alcanzando desigualmente las clases sociales con menor ingresos y acceso a los bienes sociales, en las distintas regiones brasileñas. La planificación familiar, cuando se ofrece de forma continua y prolongada, puede contribuir a la reducción del número de embarazos no deseados y abortos ilegales, y de la mortalidad materna. Se trata de un estudio de revisión sistemática de literatura de tipo exploratorio, con abordaje cualitativo. Después de la lectura selectiva de las referencias, se inició la fase analítica. Se realizó el agrupamiento en dos categorías temáticas: (1) el hombre en la planificación familiar; (2) contracepción postaborto y redes de cuidado. En lo que se refiere al aborto, la participación masculina es de extrema relevancia, pues la no aceptación del embarazo o el abandono del compañero son algunos de los motivos que llevan a la mujer al aborto. El cuidado integral a la salud de la mujer en situaciones de aborto debe incluir, además del tratamiento de emergencia, el acceso universal a la planificación reproductiva, comprendiendo orientaciones para las mujeres que desean una nueva gestación.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Pregnancy , Maternal Mortality , Abortion, Induced/mortality , Family Development Planning , Comprehensive Health Care , ContraceptionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Abortion-related mortality accounts for 8% of all global maternal deaths and 97% of the estimated 25 million unsafe abortions performed each year occur in low- and middle-income countries. Haiti has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the western hemisphere and to further understand the circumstances of induced abortion in Haiti, the current work uses data from the 2012 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) to describe the methods of induced abortion in Haiti between 2007-2012 and to identify potential factors associated with use of different abortion methods. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 2012 Haitian DHS, a two-stage cluster randomized household survey. Analysis included descriptive statistics on participant demographics, methods of abortion, and location of / assistant for the abortion. Multivariate regression was conducted to determine if demographic characteristics were associated with: 1) increased or decreased odds of having an abortion; or 2) increased or decreased odds of reporting an evidence based or non-evidence based method of abortion. RESULTS: Among the 14,287 women of childbearing age who completed the 2012 Haiti DHS survey, 289 women reported having an induced abortion in the previous five years. Recommended methods, manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) or misoprostol alone, were used in 26.6% of the abortions (n = 77). Additionally, 13.8% (n = 40) of abortions used these recommended methods in combination with a non-evidenced based method such as injections, plants or tablets. A total of 92 women had a dilation and curettage (D&C) abortion, either alone (n = 77) or in combination with another method (n = 15) and over a quarter (n = 80) of reported abortions were conducted by non-evidence based methods (n = 80). A majority of abortions using a recommended method were assisted by a relative/friend (n = 28) or were unassisted (n = 34). Most abortions occurred in private homes (n = 174) with hospitals/clinics being the second most common location (n = 84). Women in the middle (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 2.0-5.6) and highest (OR = 7.4, 95% CI = 4.4-12.3) wealth brackets were more likely to have had an abortion in comparison to women in the lowest wealth bracket. Women who had ever been in a marital union were more likely to have had an abortion than those who had not. The only demographic factor predictive of aborting using a recommended method was living in an urban area, with urban-dwelling women being less likely to use a recommended abortion method (OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.9) in comparison with women living in rural settings. CONCLUSION: In a nationally representative survey in Haiti, 2% of women of childbearing age reported having an abortion in the five years prior to the survey. A large proportion of these abortions were carried out using non-evidence based methods and over half occurred outside of the formal health care system. Understanding women's attitudes, knowledge and barriers around abortion is paramount to improving knowledge and access to evidence-based abortion care in an effort to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality in Haiti.