Correlates of abortion related maternal mortality at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja

This study was carried out to highlight the probable correlates of mortality among patients managed for abortion related complications at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. All patients managed for abortion related complications between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2003 were studied. Certain relevant socio demographic and clinical factors were compared among the survivors and fatalities. There were a total of 338 patients with abortion related complications. 299 survived while 39 died. Being single, nulliparous, of low educational status, presenting late and having major complications were significantly associated with mortality in this series. Encouragement of safe sex practices, increasing adolescents' access to contraception, additional training of physicians and other appropriate heath workers in abortion care as well as the liberalisation of the restrictive abortion laws in Nigeria will go a long way in reducing abortion related mortality.