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).