Assessment Of The Health Outcomes Associated With Unsafe Abortion Among Teenagers In Kamuli Mission Hospital

ABSTRACT

Abortion remains a major global health issue, approximately 44 million of the 210 million pregnancies that occur each year-end in induced abortion, and almost half of them(4.9%) are estimated to be unsafe. Unsafe abortion is highly prevalent in countries with restrictive abortion laws, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Comprehensive access to effective contraception and sex education are effective means of reducing induced abortion, and less restrictive completely eliminate the problem of unsafe abortion and its health consequences. Carrying out this research was necessary for that it would help the public understand the significance of seeking medical attention from a high-level facility other than waiting until they realize the deterioration of their lives. The majority of the cases were married (65.8%), with incomplete abortion (67.1%), unemployed (59.9%), HIV negative (61.0%), had carried more than one pregnancy (60.3%), dominant tribe was Basoga (71.6%), commonest complication was anemia (54.2%), unknown gestation age (26.2%), inadequate knowledge on contraceptives (56.8%). Statistics also indicated that the post abortion patients suffered from many complications such as high fevers, shock, post abortion sepsis, perforated uterus, jaundice and death, but the most common complication was anemia (54.2%) that could have contributed to mortality and morbidity. After Curettage, Induction or Manual Vacuum Aspiration, as well as other treatment modalities, patients’ hopes for life were almost certain as majority of them were discharged in good conditions (85.6%), meaning that they improved. The recommendation from the researcher was that the matters of abortion should be addressed at primary level to prevent unwanted pregnancies, at secondary level to avoid unsafe abortion by training mid level health providers as well as counselors, at tertiary level by preventing complications that follow unsafe abortion, and also at quaternary level to prevent the practice of consistent abortion.