Consequences of Illegal Induced Abortion: An Evaluation in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital

Abstract

Background: Illegal induced abortion remains a major, under-recognised contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality in low-resource settings such as Bangladesh. Objective: To evaluate the sociodemographic pattern, clinical presentation, complications, and management outcomes of illegal induced abortion at a tertiary referral hospital. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 100 women admitted with illegal induced abortion to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, over six months, using purposive sampling and a pre-formed case record form. Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages; associations were tested using SPSS v26.0, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Most patients (68%) were aged 20–30 years and 88% were housewives; 45% belonged to poor socioeconomic strata and 25% were illiterate. Menstrual regulation (MR) accounted for 58% of induction methods, and 34% of procedures were performed by nurses without medical qualification, 26% self-administered, and 24% by traditional dais — none by registered doctors. Abdominal pain (92%) and per-vaginal bleeding (88%) were the predominant presenting complaints. Shock/septicaemia (24%) and pelvic peritonitis (22%) were the leading complications. Evacuation and curettage (44%) was the commonest surgical intervention. Outcome was favourable in 98% of cases (60% cured, 38% improved), with a case fatality of 2%. Conclusion: Illegal induced abortion in this cohort was strongly associated with poverty, low education, and unskilled providers, underscoring the urgent need for safe, accessible reproductive health services.