Results

Of the 549 women who had SA abortionsin villages near in Sewagram in Wardha district, 24 (4.3%) said they had complications. Four (16.6%) of 24 with complications afterSAhad pregnancy of 6-9 weeks, 10 (41.6 %) 10-13 weeks, 5 (21%) of 14-17 weeks and 5 (21%) had pregnancy of 18-20 weeks. Of the 24 women who had complications, 33.3% (1.4% of all SA) reported vaginal bleeding, 33.3%(1.4%ofSA)abdominalpain,8.33%(0.3%ofSA)vaginaldischarge,12.5% (0.5% of SA)fever,29.16% (1.2% of SA) weakness, 16.6% (0.7% of SA) backache and 8.33% (0.36% of SA) other complications. Of the 24 women, 16 (66.7%) sought services from Private hospitals, 3 (12.5%) from Medical colleges, 2 (8%) from Subcenters. Overall twenty-one (87.5%) women were managed at health facilities. Three (12.5%) women remained at home and family members gave home remedies even for complications of abortions. Of the total 177 cases of IA in villages of Sewagram region, 7 (3.9%) said they had complications after IA, three (42.82% of 7) had IA of 6- 9 weeks pregnancy, 2 (28.57%) of 10-13 weeks, one (14.28%) of 14-17 weeks and one (14.28%) of 18 - 20 weeks. All 7 women received medical therapy. Six of 7 women with complications sought care from private hospitals (85.75%) and one from public healthfacility. In Melghat region, of 1217 women who had SA, only 4 (0.32%) said they had complications, one each had abortion of 6-9 weeks, 10-13 weeks, 14- 17 weeks and 18-20 weeks pregnancy. Of these 4 women, one (0.08% of SA) had vaginal bleeding, 2 (0.16 % of SA) abdominal pain and one woman reported backache (0.08% of SA). All 4 women had aborted at home and were managed by family members at home even for complications. No treatment was sought from any health facility. When asked about reasons for not using health facility even for complications, one said there were no resources, one had transport problem and 2 (50%) had their own beliefs for not seeking care from any health facility. Three women (75%) had home remedies and one sought help of local nurse midwife for additional medication at home. In Melghat region of the 27 women who had IA, 2 (7.4%) said they had complications, one each had IA of 10-13 weeks and 18-20 weeks pregnancy. Many did not report of any complications, more so in Melghat region. During FGDs it was revealed that women lacked awareness about possible complications of abortions. They had their own beliefs too. There was ignorance about abortion complications more so in Melghat region where there was more poverty, illiteracy, access problems, lack of infrastructure and scarce health facilities. There was no abortion related maternal death, no near miss, not even severe illness in these villages over the years for which abortion complications information was sought.(Tables 1,2,3, and 4).