Curriculum of Obstetrics
TOPIC 10
ABORTION
RATIONALE
Abortion is the major cause of bleeding in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. According to the 199293 maternal mortality survey, 4.5 percent of all maternal deaths and 6.4 percent of all direct obstetric deaths were caused by abortion. Abortion is therefore considered a very important health and psychological problem.
GOALS
l Define abortion, understand its pathology, and emphasize preventable and avoidable causes to reduce maternal mortality
l Ensure that graduates can competently manage each type
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
l Define and differentiate between symptoms and signs of each type of abortion
l Define causes and risk factors of abortions
l List complications of each type
l Describe first aid and actual management of each type of abortion
l List causes of and investigations for recurrent abortion
l Know E&C, dilation, evacuation, curettage, and cerclage techniques
l Counsel couples for their future fertility and support them psychologically
CONTENT
l Definition and clinical types of abortion
l Pathology of abortion
l Causes of abortion
l Methods and criteria of diagnosis of each type of abortion
l Complications of abortion
l Management of different types of abortion
l Guidelines for surgical evacuation
