The aim of this study is to assess unsafe abortion and its effects in Menoufyia and Assiut
governorates. A cross-sectional analytic design. The study was conducted in general hospitals,
MCH centers, and households in Menoufyia and Assiut governorates. Subjects: The sample has
included all the cases of unsafe abortion recorded in the general hospitals in the two governorates
for a whole year, 138 in Menoufyia, and 304 in Assiut. Records of MCH centers in the study
settings were used to identify subjects to be interviewed in households to fulfill the required
sample of 1000 in each governorate. Data collection tools: Three tools were used. A personal
interview sheet was used for the community-based sample of women. It contained queries about
reproductive history, and details of the aborted pregnancy. The second tool was a checklist
designed for recording data abstracted [Tom medical files of the record-based sample of
women. The third tool was a psycho-social scale for assessment of psychological and social effects
of unsafe abortion on woman. Statistical analysis: Data entry and analysis done on Epi-info 6.04
statistical software package, using Student t-test, chi-square, and Fisher tests, with statistical
significance set at p-value <0.05.:Women' illiteracy in Assiut was 60.3%, and 46.3% in
Menoufiya, the majority, were housewives. The mean age was 31.03±8.15 years in Assiut and
32.42±8.22 in Menoufiya. Economic status was the main reason for terminating pregnancy. The
most frequently adopted method was carrying heavy loads (25.4% and 36.3%) jumping [Tom
height (16.5% and 24.2%), and drinking boiled onion peels (19.4% and 23.4%) in Assiut and
Menoufiya, respectively. However, it was practiced by 13.6% and 15% of cases, respectively.
The majority of women agreed that family planning was better than unsafe abortion to get rid of
unwanted pregnancy. From the record-based sample, the crude and estimated rates of unsafe
abortion based were estimated, and were statistically significantly higher in Assiut. The majority
of women in both governorates suffered from complications, mainly bleeding, followed by gastrointestinal
disturbances. One patient from Assiut and three from Menoufiya died.It is
recommended to integrate patient education and counseling at all levels of woman's care;
premarital, antenatal, postnatal and family planning. Involving husband and mother-in-law is
important. A family planning follow-up schedule is suggested. Lastly, there is a need for
specialized related population-based studies in sociology, anthropology, behavioral sciences, as
well as in pharmacology and toxicology.