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Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on August 14, 2008
Journal of Public Health 2009 31(1):81-87; doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdn068
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© The Author 2008, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved

Trends of abortion complications in a transition of abortion law revisions in Ethiopia



Yirgu Gebrehiwot, Assistant Professor1

Tippawan Liabsuetrakul, Associate Professor2
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 9086, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2 Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand

Address correspondence to Yirgu Gebrehiwot, E-mail: yirgug{at}yahoo.com


  Abstract

Background Evidence from developed countries has shown that abortion-related mortality and morbidity has decreased with the liberalization of the abortion law. This study aimed to assess the trend of hospital-based abortion complications during the transition of legalization in Ethiopia in May 2005.

Methods Medical records of women with abortion complications from 2003 to 2007 were reviewed (n = 773). Abortion and its complications with regard to legalization were described by rates and ratios, and predictors of fatal outcomes were analyzed by logistic regression.

Results The overall and abortion-related maternal mortality ratios (AMMRs) showed a non-statistically significant downward trend over the 5-year period. However, the case fatality rate of abortion increased from 1.1% in 2003 to 3.6% in 2007. Late gestational age, history of interference and presenting after new abortion legislation passed have been found to be significant predictors of mortality.

Conclusion Decreased trends of abortion ratio and the AMMR were identified, but the severity of abortion complications and the case fatality rate increased during the transition of legal revision.

Keywords: abortion law, complications of abortion, Ethiopia


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