Every unsafe abortion risks 2 lives

About 80,000 women die every year because of unsafe methods adopted to terminate unwelcome pregnancy

Devanshi Joshi.Ahmedabad/DNA

Friday, June 27, 2008

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that, worldwide, one in every 10 pregnancy ends in an unsafe abortion. The death of nearly 80,000 expectant women (which is around 13% of all such deaths) is caused by unsafe abortions. In Gujarat, too, unsafe abortions are on the rise with a growing number of women seeking the services of quacks and untrained midwives to terminate unwanted pregnancies without publicity. Dr Namita Shah, a gynecologist in the Satellite area of the city, said that the number of unwed girls becoming pregnant has been increasing in the state. "When girls get pregnant before marriage, they generally opt for abortion. However, instead of consulting a gynecologist who can ensure a safe abortion, they turn to quacks who prescribe unsafe medications," said Dr Shah. "Abortions performed by quacks frequently end up in dangerous complications which sometimes prove fatal for the girl." Some girls try self-medication which is no less dangerous. Desperate to terminate an unwanted pregnancy in absolute secrecy, they try strange methods out of ignorance. Not only are these methods ineffective, they are extremely dangerous as well. These procedures include inserting a sharp object into the uterus, swallowing large doses of oral contraceptives, and drinking or flushing the vagina with caustic liquids such as bleach. In other cases, pregnant girls jump from high places, take to vigorous dancing, or have sustained and vigorous sexual intercourse in the hope that one of these will terminate the unwelcome pregnancy. Dr Ruby Mehta, a gynecologist in Ambavadi, said that even the least damaging of unsafe abortions can cause infection of uterine tissues with attendant symptoms of fever, chills, foul-smelling vaginal discharges and uterine tenderness. "Unsafe abortions frequently cause death of the pregnant girl," said Mehta. Heavy bleeding results when an untrained person dilates the cervix with a sharp object to scrape out the contents of the uterus. This bleeding must be stopped if the pregnant woman is to survive. Such unsafe procedures can cause irreparable damage to other organs such as ovaries, bowel, bladder, and the rectum. Abortions performed by quacks are usually 'incomplete' in that some tissue gets left behind in the uterus even after the abortion. Symptoms of incomplete abortions include abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding; and an enlarged uterus.Girls should be warned against unsafe abortions because they can cause infertility or complications even during future pregnancies.