Les complications des avortements clandestins observées à la maternité de Befelatanana, Antananarivo

Abstract

Introduction. Clandestine abortion is still frequent in Madagascar and is a public health problem. The complications are numerous and the mortality is still high. Our objectives are to describe the epidemiological aspects, to cite the abortive means used and to report its complications. Patients and methods. This is a retrospective descriptive study from 1st january to 31st december 2011 of illegal abortions at the maternity of Befelatanana, Antananarivo. Results. We had recorded 124 cases. The age groups were between 25 and 45 years; 51.61% were legally married and 41.91% were housewives. In our study, 20.96% had a history of voluntary termination of pregnancy, 70.96% had multiple gestures. In 60.48% of the cases, the women had practiced the abortive act themselves and the medicinal means (51.61%) were the most used means. Hemorrhagic complications by placental retention were observed in 58.87% of cases and 29.03% concerned by infectious complications. Uterine evacuation was used for 59.67% of cases. Ten cases of death (8.06%) were recorded. Conclusion. The complications of clandestine abortions remain a major public health problem in Madagascar. Sexual education and sensibilisation for the women about the use of contraceptives method would be a means to avoid or to minimize this scourge