DEATHS FROM CONTRACEPTIVE STERILIZATION IN BANGLADESH - RATES, CAUSES, AND PREVENTION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (5) , 635-640
Abstract
The second of 2 epidemiologic investigations of deaths attributable to sterilization in Bangladesh is summarized. All deaths resulting from sterilizations performed nationwide between Sept. 16, 1980 and April 15, 1981 were investigated and analyzed. Nineteen deaths from tubal sterilization were attributed to 153,032 sterilization operations (both tubal sterilization and vasectomy), for an overall death-to-case rate of 12.4 deaths per 100,000 operations. This rate is lower than that (21.3) for operations performed in Dacca and Rajshahi Divisions from Jan. 1, 1979 to March 31, 1980, although this difference is not statistically significant. Anesthesia overdosage, tetanus and hemorrhage were the leading causes of death. Improvements in anesthesia management, surgical asepsis and postoperative monitoring of vital signs should make sterilization operations even safer. Although tubal sterilizations performed in Bangladesh cost some lives, they avert far more maternal deaths. The net health impact is strongly favorable; for every 100,000 tubal sterilizations performed, approximately 1000 deaths are prevented.

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