Prevalence and Risk Factors for Patients Undergoing Abortion In Zagazig University Hospitals

Abstract

Background: Abortion is a public health concern because of its impact on maternalmorbidity and mortality. Each year, about 79 million unintended pregnancies, excludingmiscarriage, occur worldwide. More than half of these unintended pregnancies end inabortion. The aims of the present study were to; assess the prevalence, risk factors associatedwith abortion in Zagazig university hospitals. A cross sectional design with nested casecontrol design were selected in carrying out this study and representative samples of 800women (400 aborted women and 400 non aborted women) were recruited for this study. Thetools used for data collection were; an interview questionnaire sheet, clinical assessmentform. The results were; the prevalence of abortion as estimated from the registries ofZagazig University Hospital was 25.0 % during the period from August 2010 till July 2011.Risk factors for abortion include; women’s age, consanguinity, education, job status,exposure to pesticide, passive smoking, coffee intake and previous abortion as well asunwanted the current pregnancy. Eleven women were exposed to illegal and unsafe abortionand use misoprostol to induce abortion. It can be concluded that, the prevalence of abortionwas 25.0 % during the period from August 2010 till July 2011. Risk factors for abortioninclude; unhealthy life style, pregnancy complications and history of previous abortion. Thestudy recommended that; relevant nursing curricula must entail a detailed portion aboutabortion, management and post abortal hygiene. And nursing role for women underwentabortion should be recommended in maternity hospital protocols.