Of the 83,576 reported abortions performed on Canadian women in 2019, detailed reports on the number and percentage of repeat or first-time abortions exist for only 17,421. The number of complications is not known for the remaining 66,155 abortions. All of the abortions with detailed records on complications were performed in hospitals; clinic data on complications is not available.
As noted by CIHI, only complications that occur during the initial visit or hospitalization within 28 days of the procedure are included.
Complications following 28 days or complications that occurred to patients where the health care number was not recorded during the initial visit or hospitalization are not included. CIHI admits that “complications may therefore be undercounted.”
The “combination” category includes cases where more than one type of complication was recorded. For example, cases with both an infection and a hemorrhage are included under “combination.”
| Complication | Number of induced abortions reported by hospitals | Percentage of induced abortions reported by hospitals |
|---|---|---|
| None | 16,998 | 97.6% |
| Hemorrhage | 159 | 0.9% |
| Infection | 55 | 0.3% |
| Retained products of conception | 72 | 0.4% |
| Combination | 43 | 0.2% |
| Other | 94 | 0.5% |
| Total | 17,421 | 100.0% |
Table detailing the number of hospital reported abortion complications in Canada in 2010 (Click here for a pdf of this table):
| Complication | Number of Abortions in Canada as Reported by Hospitals in 2010 |
|---|---|
| None | 26,927 |
| Hemorrhage | 231 |
| Infection | 107 |
| Retained Products of Conception | 89 |
| Combination | 82 |
| Other | 140 |
| Total | 27,576 |
Important notes for 2010 Complication Rates
Complications that occur during the initial visit or hospitalization, as well as complications on subsequent visits, transfers or readmissions within 28 days for the same patient, are included. Complications during subsequent visits, transfers or readmissions for cases where the health care number was not recorded during the initial visit or hospitalization are not included; complications may therefore be undercounted.