Is there a greater incidence of abdominal pregnancy in developing countries? Report of four cases.

Early ectopic pregnancies often are unrecognized in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. Some of these untreated tubal pregnancies abort into the peritoneal cavity and continue as advanced abdominal pregnancies. Of 72 ectopic pregnancies that were treated surgically over a 67-month period, four fetuses were found to be implanted in the abdomen. Two of these pregnancies proceeded to term and viable normal infants were delivered. One in 18 ectopic pregnancies were of advanced gestation in the abdomen. This incidence is higher than has been reported previously and is related to the poor utilization of medical care by pregnant women in rural areas of Papua New Guinea.