Induced abortion and its sequelae: prevalence and associations with the outcome of pregnancy.

Abstract

A mail questionnaire of 2825 and an interview survey of 650 Japanese women age 20-44 was conducted in March 1971. Results show that the prevalence of induced abortion in Kochi prefecture is higher than previous reports based on national family planning surveys in Japan. The pregnancy histories of 2476 mail survey and 614 interview survey respondents who had completed at least one pregnancy prior to the date of questioning showed that: Pregnancy wastage and infertility were reported in similar proportions of women who did and did not use induced abortion. Live births and pregnancies (excluding induced abortions) corrected for age and duration of marriage showed similar ratios among women who did and did not use induced abortion. Induced abortion represented excess fertility in all age groups and was associated with a high degree of contraceptive failure. Women who used induced abortion attempted to use contraception more than nonaborters. Younger women used more efficient contraceptive methods than older women. Maternal age specific analysis showed that the outcomes of pregnancies subsequent to an induced abortion were qualitatively similar to the outcomes of pregnancies in women who did not use abortion. A secular decline in fertility occurred after age 30. This was accompanied by an increase in pregnancy wastage seen in similar proportions among women whether or not they had used induced abortion. An inverse relationship between education and the use of induced abortion was found. This was independent of age. Younger marriage age and longer duration of marriage was associated with higher prevalence of induced abortion. The distribution of socioeconomic characteristics was not related to abortion status. The history and present status of abortion practices in Japan are discussed. (authors)