5000 years ago, the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung described the use of mercury for inducing abortion. Since then over 100 traditional methods have been used for inducing abortion and most of them are considered to be unsafe now. Still some of these methods like intrauterine foreign bodies and trauma to the abdomen are practised in some societies.It has been estimated that 68,000 women die every year from unsafe abortion, and millions more are injured, many permanently.
Abortion is defined as pregnancy termination prior to 20weeks of gestation or with the fetes born weighing less than 500 gms. WHO defines unsafe abortion as a procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy either by individuals without the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimum medical standards, or both. Unsafe abortion remains one of the most neglected sexual and reproductive health…
