[How far do clandestine abortion providers go in Africa?]

A 28-year-old, gravida 2, para 2 was admitted to undergo abortion in the third quarter. The procedure consisting of mechanical induction of labor using plastic catheters was performed by a male nurse. The day after placement of the catheters the patient began labor and gave uneventful birth to female infant weighing 2900 grams. The procedure undertaken to destroy the fetus led to the birth of a normal healthy child. Mechanical induction after full-term pregnancy (rarely performed in our areas) is unwarranted if pregnancy is ongoing. Due to his ignorance of the late stage of pregnancy and of the potential consequences of the procedure, the male nurse had exposed the patient to risk of severe trauma. Although the outcome was favorable for the patient, action must be taken to control intermediate level health care workers whose practices can endanger the population.