Surgical abortion in second trimester: initial experiences in Nepal.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health

Background:

• Despite legal access to safe abortion in Nepal, second trimester abortions, particularly unsafe ones, persist as a significant public health issue.
• Multifactorial reasons contribute to the need for second trimester abortions, including socioeconomic factors and reproductive choices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the demographic characteristics of women seeking second trimester abortions.
• To identify the primary reasons for undergoing second trimester abortions.
• To evaluate the efficacy of Misoprostol in cervical preparation for these procedures.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study was conducted involving 57 women undergoing second trimester abortions at Maternity Hospital, Kathmandu.
• Data was collected using structured questionnaires and subsequently analyzed.

Main Results:

• The most frequent reason for seeking abortion was multiparity (61.4%).
• Key reasons for second trimester abortions included completed family size with unwanted pregnancy (61.4%), unwanted pregnancy in married women (10.52%), and unwanted pregnancy in unmarried women (5.26%).

Conclusions:

• Second trimester abortion is a common procedure for reproductive-aged women.
• When performed by skilled providers in appropriate settings, it is a safe surgical procedure.
• Effective second trimester abortion services require supportive national policies and public acceptance.