A Retrospective Study on the Utilization of Medical Method of Abortion (MMA) and the Reasons for Seeking Abortion Among Women at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: The Medical Method of Abortion (MMA) is a cornerstone of safe abortion care. Understanding its real-world utilisation and the
reasons driving abortion-seeking behaviour in tertiary care settings is crucial for service improvement.
Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, record-based study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital over two years. Data from 482 eligible
case records of women who underwent induced abortion were analysed using a structured proforma. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests
were applied.
Results: The prevalence of MMA utilisation was 57.7%. Its use was strongly associated with lower gestational age, employed in 87.9% of cases
at ≤7 weeks versus 12.1% at ≥10 weeks (p<0.001). Nulliparous women opted for MMA more frequently than multiparous women (71.7% vs.
48.1%, p<0.001). The leading documented reasons for abortion were contraceptive failure (35.7%), socio-economic constraints (28.0%), and
completion of desired family size (20.1%). The majority of MMA procedures (90.6%) were successfully completed without surgical intervention.
Conclusion: MMA is the predominant abortion method in early pregnancy at this tertiary centre, with utilisation dictated by evidence-based
gestational age limits. Contraceptive failure remains the primary driver for abortion, highlighting a critical gap in preventive reproductive
healthcare. Findings support the need for integrated services that combine safe abortion with robust contraceptive counselling to address unmet
family planning needs.