Clandestine abortion resulting in uterine perforation and a retained foreign body led to generalized peritonitis: a case report from Lilongwe, Malawi

Abstract

Abortion is criminalized in Malawi in the absence of a life-threatening condition. Consequently, women often undergo unsafe abortions. A large proportion of abortions performed in Malawi require subsequent treatment at a healthcare facility. We describe the case of a 17-year-old who presented with generalized peritonitis and was found intraoperatively to have a necrotic and perforated uterus with a stick retained in her abdominopelvic cavity from a clandestine abortion. This case demonstrates the need for awareness and vigilance among healthcare providers in all specialties to suspect surgical abortion complications as a cause of generalized peritonitis and points to the need for further studies on the optimal management of such patients.

Keywords

• abortion complications
• case report
• low-income country
• Malawi abortion law
• unsafe abortion