Abstract: The annual number of unsafe abortions is increasing due to the growing number of women of reproductive
age globally, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO estimated 21.6 million unsafe abortions in
2008. The aim of the study was to assess the hospital rate of abortion for one year at the Woman’s Health Hospital,
Assiut University, Egypt and to assess the knowledge of post abortion women about the timing of fertility return and
their intention for using post abortion family planning methods. Subjects and methods: A Cross Sectional study was
used in carrying out this study. The following tool was used in the current study: Structured interviewing
questionnaire which included the following data: Data related to fertility return awareness and the intention of these
women for the future use of family planning methods. Results: The hospital based rate of abortion is 9.4% according
to the hospital statistical based data, 2011. More than half of women (56.7%) didn’t know any type of post abortion
family planning methods, nearly two thirds of them (61.4%) didn’t know the time of fertility return after abortion,
three quarters of women (78.6%) want to postponing childbearing and nearly two thirds of them (62.9%) had no
intention for using post abortion family planning methods. Conclusions: Based on the results of the present study, it
can be concluded that there is a lack of knowledge of these women about the time of fertility return after abortion and
the family planning methods should be used after abortion. Recommendations: In Upper Egypt, there is a need of
postabotion family planning counseling programs as an essential part of postabortion care.
[Ghadah A. Mahmoud and Soad S. Byomy. Fertility awareness and family planning use among post abortion
women in Egypt. Life Sci J 2013;10(1):143-150] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 21
Key wards: Unsafe abortion, postabortion, fertility return, family planning.