Facility-based treatment for medical complications resulting from unsafe pregnancy termination in the developing world, 2012: a review of evidence from 26 countries

BJOG. 2016 Aug;123(9):1489-98. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.13552. Epub 2015 Aug 19.

Abstract

With changing conditions affecting receipt of postabortion care, an updated estimate of the incidence of treatment for complications from unsafe pregnancy termination is needed to inform policies and programmes. National estimates of facility-based treatment for complications in 26 countries form the basis for estimating treatment rates in the developing world. An estimated seven million women were treated in the developing world for complications from unsafe pregnancy termination in 2012, a rate of 6.9 per 1000 women aged 15-44 years. Regionally, rates ranged from 5.3 in Latin America and the Caribbean to 8.2 in Asia. Results inform policies to improve women's health.

Tweetable abstract: An estimated 7 million women were treated in the developing world for complications of unsafe TOP in 2012.

Keywords: Developing world; postabortion care; pregnancy termination.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Abortion, Induced / adverse effects*
  • Aftercare*
  • Asia / epidemiology
  • Caribbean Region / epidemiology
  • Developing Countries*
  • Female
  • Health Facilities
  • Health Policy
  • Health Services Accessibility*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Latin America / epidemiology
  • Misoprostol
  • Pregnancy
  • Sepsis / epidemiology*
  • Sepsis / etiology
  • Sepsis / therapy
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / epidemiology*
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Uterine Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Uterine Perforation / epidemiology*
  • Uterine Perforation / etiology
  • Uterine Perforation / therapy
  • Women's Health

Substances

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Misoprostol