Consequences of unsafe abortion in India- a case report

Abstract

Unsafe abortion represents a preventable yet major cause for maternal mortality in India. A majority of these abortions are performed confidentially. Complications occur in a large portion of these cases and ultimately require tertiary care. However, patients and their relatives often fail to disclose the abortion despite the critical state of the patients. This scenario creates considerable confusion for diagnosis and treatment and can lead to further complications. This case report of complications associated with an unsafe abortion in India highlights the need for clinicians to consider the possibility of an undisclosed abortion when treating any morbid woman of reproductive age.