Study of manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) at a tertiary health center

Unsafe abortion with its associated complications remains a public health challenge in spite of legalisation of induced abortion through MTP Act, 1971. Comprehensive abortion care (CAC) is an integral component of maternal health interventions as part of the National Health Mission. Present study was aimed to evaluate role of manual vacuum aspiration for induced/spontaneous abortions with uterine size less than 12 weeks at a tertiary teaching hospital & to assess safety of MVA. Present study was a prospective, observational study conducted in pregnant women underwent manual vacuum aspiration, for induced/spontaneous/incomplete abortions with < 12 weeks gestation. During study period 866 patients underwent manual vacuum aspiration procedure for first trimester MTP/missed/incomplete abortions. In present study most common age group was 26-30 years (39 %), most patients were gravida 2 (29 %). Most patients underwent MVA at 8-10 weeks gestation ( 38 %) & most common indication for MVA was medical termination of pregnancy (54 %) compared to incomplete abortion (46 %). In present study most common complications were blood transfusion (4.73 %), Hemorrhage (3.93%) & Incomplete abortion after MVA (2.42 %). MVA is a safe, simple, inexpensive method for first trimester induced/spontaneous/incomplete abortions. MVA is a promising method which can be practiced widely in rural areas where access to medical facilities are limited.