Plain English summary

Due to a lack of relevant data on induced abortions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as well as the high rate of maternal deaths, this study aims to analyse the extent of induced abortions and occurrence of complications in Kinshasa.

To achieve this, 460 women were interviewed about their experience, and provided information about 1444 women of childbearing age living in Kinshasa.

Among all confidantes included in the study, 5.5% had induced abortions during 2015, a rate of 55.0 abortions per 1000 women of childbearing age in Kinshasa. This practice was significantly higher in single/separated/divorced women, those without a formal education or primary-school education, and women who consumed excessive alcohol. Most abortions were induced by the administration of high doses of medication, by the women themselves or by health workers. 51.9% (95% CI: 40.4–63.3%) of induced abortions led to complications, that were predominantly haemorrhagic. Moreover, 39% of patients with complications went to a health centre or dispensary to obtain care of whom 12.5% had genital trauma or uterine perforation/intestinal necrosis.

In conclusion, induced abortion is a public health problem in Kinshasa due to its frequency of practice, the complications that occur, and the absence of major surgeries in the health care package offered by the health centres or dispensaries that also provide the treatment of some serious complications. Thus, there is a need to focus on their prevention and the enhancement of the health care package offered by health centres to include appropriate measures in favour of maternal health.

Article summary

Strengths

The first survey that estimated directly from the community the frequency of induced abortion and occurrence of complications in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Limitation

The possibility that the extent of induced abortion and its consequences was underestimated because the information was collected from non-primary sources; respondents could report only what they knew about their confidantes and were willing to report.

Background

Annually, about 25 million unsafe abortions were estimated to have taken place worldwide [1], the majority of these occurring in developing countries, where about 7 million women are admitted to hospitals due to complications [2].

Complications from unsafe abortions account for about 7.9% (4.7–13.2%) of maternal deaths [3]. In addition to maternal deaths, high morbidity can be observed long-term such as premature births, psychiatric sequelae, infertility or subfertility, chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and spontaneous abortions [4,5,6,7].

An essential component in continuing efforts to reduce the incidence and consequences of unsafe abortions remains empirical evidence of the magnitude of the problem. Data of this nature may also be useful for assessing the impact of investments made to lessen these consequences. Studies to estimate the incidence of unsafe abortions in most developing countries where access to safe medical abortion is severely limited are difficult to conduct properly due to the clandestine nature of this phenomenon.

One of the estimation methods used in these countries is the, “Abortion Incidence Complications Method” (AICM), which is an indirect estimation method. According to this approach, the incidence of abortion is calculated as the sum of all abortions that resulted in complications treated or untreated in a health facility, and those without complications. All these calculation elements are estimated from information collected in health facilities and from health professionals [8]. The limits of this method include the following: underestimating the incidence of abortions because it does not include cases of complications that are not treated in health facilities, permission from the health authorities to measure cases of postabortion care in their health establishments, and the tendency for providers to under-report postabortion care for fear of losing their medical license or going to jail. In view of these limits, Anonymous Third Party Reporting (ATPR) method can be a good alternative because it estimates directly from the community in countries where access to abortion services is highly restricted and the practice is clandestine [9].

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one of the developing countries where almost all induced abortions are backstreet abortions and unsafe because the restrictive laws, the prevalence of modern contraception is low at 8% [10], a situation which undoubtedly have effect on the rates of unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions. Available data on unwanted pregnancies and induced abortions are estimated on the basis of the AICM. Given the different limits of this method and the implementation of the post-abortion care strategy under way in this country, this study proposes to use the confidante approach, an ATPR method, which entails surveying women about their confidantes’ abortions. This approach estimates directly from the community to determine, in the city of Kinshasa DRC: (i) the proportion of induced abortions amongst women of childbearing age as well as their characteristics; (ii) the determinants of induced abortions; and (iii) the frequency of post-abortion complications occurring in women of childbearing age as well as their characteristics.

Methodology

Study design

During March 2016, a cross-sectional study was conducted in households in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC. Kinshasa was chosen as the study setting because induced abortion occurs predominantly in cities [11,12,13].

Study population

The study population included in the study were women of childbearing age living in households in the city of Kinshasa and who confided secret and/or personal events of their lives to interviewees.

Confidante approach and sampling

The confidante approach used is an ATPR method, which involves gathering information from randomly selected respondents about people (friends, sisters, colleagues, etc.) who entrust them with secret events of their lives (confidants). Respondents thus generated the sample without being part of it [9, 14, 15].

In this study, respondents were women of childbearing age, the sample generated was also women of childbearing age.

It should be noted that the respondents from whom was generated the sample were selected randomly and in a representative way from the city of Kinshasa, and the sample generated from these respondents consists essentially of their confidants. The respondents were not part of the sample and their personal information was not considered [9].

Thus, the first step to implementing the ATPR method was to draw a representative sample of respondents [9].

Random selection of respondents interviewed:

For the random selection of respondents, the sample size was calculated using the formula “the square of 1.96 which is the value of the standard normal distribution coefficient corresponding to a significance level of alpha of 0.05, multiplied by the proportion of women of childbearing age in the city of Kinshasa (we used the proportion of 50 % to have the highest minimum size), multiplied by its complement (1-0.50), divided by the square of precision degree that we assumed to be at 5 % too” The minimal sample size calculated was 384 women of childbearing age. We added 20% (n = 76) to the sample to account for non-respondents, yielding a total sample of 460Moreover, to approach the respondents in a representative way of the city of Kinshasa, five strata of the health zones (the basic operational level of the DRC’s health system) of this city were formed according to their cultural, socio-economic and infrastructural similarities [16]; then, from each stratum, a health zone was randomly drawn, so that a total of five health zones representative of the city of Kinshasa were surveyed. The sample of 460 respondents was distributed amongst these five health zones proportionally to the size of their respective populations. The size of different populations was given by the central offices of the respective health zones, from the projection of 1982 census data.

In each health zone, all health areas were drawn, the sample of the health zone was distributed amongst these health areas proportionally to the size of their respective populations. In each health area three avenues were randomly drawn, the health area sample was distributed amongst these three avenues proportionally to the size of their respective populations.

In each selected avenue, a plot identification survey (parcels/residences) was conducted in which there was at least one household with at least one woman of childbearing age. The results of this survey and the number allocated to the avenue were used to calculate a poll step, which made it possible to identify the parcels (residences) to be investigated. If a parcel survey of more than one household had at least one woman of childbearing age, the household to be surveyed was chosen randomly. Similarly, in a household survey where there were several women of childbearing age, one woman was chosen randomly and interviewed about her confidantes.

Data collection, information sources, and variables

Professional health investigators collected data using a survey form, asking respondents to recall the characteristics of induced abortion for their confidents during the year 2015.

Information on induced abortion was collected as any other characteristic of the confidante, and its difference with spontaneous abortion was ensured at the time of the interview by reminding the respondent of what it was, because the population of Kinshasa hardly confuse these two concepts even in the local language (“alongola zembi” for induced abortion and “zemi elongwaki” for spontaneous abortion). Those of excessive alcohol use (more than two standard drinks per day or driving under the influence of alcohol) was collected because of the potential effects of alcohol on self-control and subsequent reckless behaviour, such as unprotected sex, which can cause unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion [17].

As for the variable age, the group of adolescents consisted of any subject aged 19 years or younger, and this was in line with the definition provided by UNICEF, UNAIDS, and WHO.

Data processing and statistical analysis

Data were entered into an Epi Info software program version 3.5.4, exported to Microsoft Excel, and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, IBM.

The non-probabilistic nature of the sampling prevented inferences from been drawn about the proportion of women of childbearing age according to the types of district in Kinshasa, but rather of those relating to the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics (including the history of induced abortion) [18].

The rate of induced abortion expressed per 1000 women of childbearing age in 2015 was calculated by the ratio of induced abortions to person-year 2015 (the number of respondent’s confidants in 2015 in the denominator and the induced abortions performed among these confidants in the numerator).

Categorical variables were reported as a frequency and percentage, and groups were compared using the χ2 test. The forward stepwise logistic regression helped to identify independent predictors of induced abortion, complications thereof, and referral hospital use in cases of complication. Only variables associated with induced abortion, and complications thereof in the bivariate analysis were included in the final model. The odds ratio (OR) with a corresponding 95% confidence interval was reported to quantify the strength of association. Significance was set at p-value of less than 0.05.

Ethical considerations

The National Ethics Committee of the Kinshasa School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, approved this study before the collection of data (Ethics Certificate N° ESP/CE/015/2016). Authorisation was also provided by health and politico-administrative authorities. The informed consent of women (respondents) was requested systematically, and the confidentiality of women of childbearing age was respected to the maximum extent possible by imposing anonymity.

Results

A total of 460 respondents reported on 1444 confidents, with a median of 3 (IQR:2–4) confidents.

Frequency of induced abortions (Table 1)

During 2015, amongst 1444 confidantes, a percentage of 5.5% (95% CI: 4.4–6.8%) had induced abortions, which corresponds to the rate of 55.0 abortions per 1000 women of childbearing age in Kinshasa (95% CI: 44.0–68.0%).

Table 1 Frequency of induced abortion in 2015
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Characteristics of induced abortions (Tables 2 and 3)

The median age (IQR) of the confidante’s population was 27 years (22–32); almost half of the women were single or separated or divorced or widowed and had completed secondary school. They had at least one child and most of them had no income. Most confidantes had neither a history of induced abortion and nor did they consume tobacco or alcohol.

Table 2 Descriptive analysis
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Table 3 Characteristics of induced abortion
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Most of these induced abortions were performed after the administration of high doses of drugs by the women themselves (50.6%) or by health workers (40.5%).

Determinants of induced abortion (Table 4)

Multivariate analysis shows that: single or separated or divorced women or widows had significantly a higher odds of having an induced abortion than married women (Adjusted OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.4–4.9); women without formal education or primary-school education had significantly a higher odds than women with secondary education (Adjusted OR = 2.2.; 95% CI: 1.1–4.8); and women who consumed excessive alcohol had a significantly higher odds than those who did not (Adjusted OR = 3.2; 95% CI: 2.2–6.9).

Table 4 Determinants of induced abortion (bivariate and multivariate analysis)
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Frequency and characteristics of induced abortion-related complications (Table 5)

A percentage of 51.9% (95% CI: 40.4–63.3%) of induced abortions led to complications, that were predominantly haemorrhagic, and occurred in eccentric and semi-rural districts of Kinshasa. Moreover, there was a percentage of 39% of patients with complications who went to a health centre or dispensary to obtain care and of whom 12.5% had genital trauma or uterine perforation/intestinal necrosis.

Table 5 Frequency and characteristics of complication due to induced abortion
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Discussion

In the study 5.5% of confidantes had induced abortions, which corresponds to the rate of 55.0 abortions per 1000 women of childbearing age. The findings of this study reflect the poor success rate of interventions implemented in family planning settings. The aim of these interventions is to reduce the need to resort to induced abortion by reducing the rate of unwanted pregnancy, mainly through the use of modern contraception [19]. Nationally, since 2007, the prevalence of modern contraceptive use in the DRC is low, at around 8% [10].

The rate of induced abortion in the DRC is much higher compared with other African countries such as Malawi (46.1 per 1000 women of childbearing age), Tanzania (34.4 per 1000 women of childbearing age) and Rwanda (51.6 per 1000 women of childbearing age) where the rates of modern contraceptive use are higher [20].

A percentage of abortions (50.6%) were self-induced by women of childbearing age, and 40.5% were induced by health workers or simulators. Most methods used were medicinal. In the DRC and other developing countries, regulations on the sale and use of pharmaceutical products are scarcely observed, and the practices of self-medication and diversification of remedies are commonplace; they constitute the therapeutic choices of the majority of persons before they resort to a sanitary structure [21,22,23].

The researchers found a significant correlation between excessive alcohol use (more than two standard drinks per day or driving under the influence) and the incidence of induced abortion. Such consumption may directly affect the decision to abort, or lead to unprotected intercourse, which could result in unwanted pregnancy [17]. Moreover, in the present study a significant association was observed between single or separated or divorced women or widows without formal education or primary-school education, these results corroborating those reported by various authors [11, 12, 24,25,26,27,28]; and can be understood within the social context of Kinshasa as pregnancy out of wedlock is not tolerated (thus impelling unmarried pregnant women to abort when the fathers are not ready for marriage) and the exclusion of sex education in the primary school curriculum.

During 2015, a percentage of 51.9% of the induced abortions performed led to complications. The high incidences of these complications reflect upstream a serious problem to perform these abortions in Kinshasa. This situation is very similar to those in other countries, such as Rwanda and Burkina Faso, where 40% of induced abortions led to complications [29, 30]. Most complications occurred in eccentric and semi-rural districts of Kinshasa, which can be explained by a low socioeconomic level which limits women in their purchase of medicines for post-abortion care as well as the poor quality of the abortion procedures by abortion providers in these neighbourhoods (poor quality of the procedures). Haemorrhage was the predominant type of complication, followed by infection and genital trauma. This finding is in agreement with those of many other studies conducted in similar contexts [31,32,33].

During 2015, 39% of confidents with post-abortion complications visited a health centre or dispensary for care. Of these, there were cases of genital trauma and uterine perforation complication that should be treated at the referral health facilities that offer the full package of care. The health centre or dispensary that provided treatment for them has a mandate only to offer the minimal package of ambulatory care that does not include major surgical procedures such as laparotomy to repair a uterine perforation. This situation can be explained by a greater facility, financial and geographical access to a health centre or dispensary than to referral hospitals. This facility makes the health centre or dispensary the most widely attended health infrastructure in both Kinshasa (67.5%) and nationally (63.2%) [34].

It should be noted the possibility that the extent of induced abortion and its consequences were underestimated because the information was collected from non-primary sources, in a geographical context where induced abortion is illegal and poorly perceived by the population; respondents could only report what they knew about their confidents and what they felt safe reporting to researchers.

Conclusion

This study confirmed that induced abortion is a public health problem in Kinshasa due to the frequency of the practice, the complications that occur, and the absence of major surgeries such as laparotomy in the health care package offered by the health centres or dispensaries that also provide the treatment of some serious complications.

In the context of the DRC, where the prevalence of modern contraceptive use is low despite the efforts of the Ministry of Public Health in raising awareness and distributing modern contraceptives through the national reproductive health program supported by several partners and laws prohibit induced abortion, leading to its clandestine practice with serious complications, the analysis of the management of induced abortion-related complications in the health structures and that of possibility of extending the health care package offered by health centres to major surgeries are urgently needed to offer appropriate measures in favour of maternal health.