Trends in postabortal mortality and morbidity in Ibadan, Nigeria

Illegally induced abortion at the University College Hospital, Ibadan increased steadily over a 10-year period (1980-1989) despite increasing availability of family planning services. Abortion was the commonest cause of death in the gynecology service during the period of the study and constituted 36.6% of fatalities. The majority of patients (76.2%) did not accept contraceptives. Almost one-third of the illegal terminations were performed by physicians. Although the percentage of deaths decreased, the contribution of physicians to these fatalities increased, and accounted for 6/9 (66.7%) of fatalities in 1989. This circumstance probably signifies a defect in physician training and ability to perform abortion aftercare. Physicians should be trained in abortion care and laws changed in conjunction with greater drive to improve contraceptive utilization and reduce the incidence of unsafely induced abortion.