Abortion complications in Abidjan (Ivory Coast)

The aim of this study was to describe the various methods of abortion used by women admitted to an obstetrics department in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) for abortion complications. The study was retrospective, and was based on the medical files of all 472 women admitted for abortion complications during a 3-year period (1993-1995). The introduction of plant stems into the uterus, the use of certain instruments, use of vaginal preparations, and ingestion of plants were the most common abortion methods. Seventeen maternal deaths were registered, giving a maternal mortality rate of 3.6%. A high number of previous pregnancies and the ingestion of plants to provoke abortion were factors associated with the highest risk for maternal death. Complications of "local" abortion methods accounted for a high proportion of maternal deaths.