A hospital based exploratory study to assess the reasons and timings of seeking abortion services in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai

Abstract

Background: The adoption of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act has allowed for abortion on the grounds of medical and social reasons since 1972.The aim of the present study is to establish the demographic of women seeking abortion care services and to determine the role of different factors in the timing of seeking an abortion.Methods: A retrospective hospital record-based study was carried out among pregnant women seeking an MTP in a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai. The records of women seeking MTP over a 5-year period from January 2012 to December 2016 were accessed and data pertaining to their demographic and obstetric history was recorded. Statistical tests of significance and analysis were done.Results: A total of 803 women underwent an MTP from January 2012 to December 2016. The number of deliveries during the same time period was 13735. The most common age group was 25-30 years. Stratification in terms of the educational backgrounds showed that 45.7% had received only secondary school education while 12.7% had no schooling. Majority of the women (74.8%) availed an MTP in the first trimester, out of which, most of them (36.9%) had 2 previous pregnancies. Most women coming in the second trimester (43.6%) hadn’t conceived before.Conclusions: Education didn’t seem to be a significant factor in determining the timing of seeking an MTP. School education did not necessarily include exposure to sexual education. Experience in terms of parity was more relevant in identifying signs of pregnancy and seeking appropriate services in a timely manner.

Trends in abortion services and sociodemographic profile of women those availed abortion services at Parivar Seva clinics in India

“…As per national family heath survey and other studies the present study also shows that majority of women presenting for abortion care (MTP-85.5% and 87.2% and treatment for other abortion-94.3% and 95.4%) reported within 12 weeks of gestation in both the calendar years. 17,18,20,25,26 However, this study found that the proportion of women seeking services for other abortion at the age of 8-10 weeks of gestation was more as compared to those for MTP. This may be due to the fact that abortion with drugs, which should be used within 9 weeks of pregnancy to be effective, was not adhered.…”

“…6,14,15 The present study corroborates the findings of national survey as well as other studies which have reported a higher rate of induction of abortion among older age groups. [17][18][19][20] However, the proportion of younger women (less than 18 years) seeking services for incomplete abortion was significantly more as compared to medical termination of pregnancy. Study conducted by Banerjee et al showed that women with complications of spontaneous abortion were significantly younger than women with complication due to induced abortion.…”