Abortion: A Leading Cause of Maternal Mortality in Pakistan

Volume 7 Issue 1 February - April 2017

Article

Abortion: A Leading Cause of Maternal Mortality in Pakistan

Kausar Karim*, Armish Aziz Ahmed**

*Registered Nurse, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

** Registered Nurse, Intensive Care Unit, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

Karim, K., and Ahmed, A.A. (2017). Abortion: A Leading Cause of Maternal Mortality in Pakistan. i-manager’s Journal on Nursing, 7(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.7.1.13485

Abstract

Unsafe abortion is one of the serious maternal health issues and a major concern for women in their reproductive phase. It is estimated that globally around 42 million women go for a premature ending of pregnancy annually, where about 20 million abortions are taken place in an unsafe manner. Approximately 13% of maternal deaths globally are due to abortion, 95% of these occur in developing countries with 10-12% of maternal deaths in Pakistan due to complications of miscarriages/abortion. Unwanted pregnancies, cultural influence, poverty, mother's health issues and lack of availability and accessibility of contraception and contraceptive failures are some of the aspects that contribute rise in unsafe termination of pregnancy. The majority of unsafe abortion providers is covert untrained lady Health visitors, nurse/midwives, and dais due to a social taboo attached to it. Unsafe abortion causes high maternal mortality and morbidity rate with numerous immediate and long-term complications. This necessitates making legal status of abortion known to the health care providers, policymakers, and the general public in Pakistan.