Criminal abortions as seen in the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka

Every year a large number of patients who are spontaneously aborting are admitted to the Gynaecological ward of the University Teaching Hospital (Lusaka) at various clinical stages of septic, incomplete, inevitable or threatened abortion. An undetermined number of these patients are induced outside the hospital. Analysis of data revealed that 60% of admissions in the gynaecological admission ward are abortions and a number of them present with features of sepsis. In a 4 year study period there were 15 maternal deaths as a result of septic/criminal abortions. Various methods are used to procure criminal abortions; out of which a case of a patient who used a knitting needle to procure abortion is presented.