Induced Abortion Research Articles

Factors influencing abortion care-seeking outside of formal healthcare settings: lived experiences from Rwandan young women

BackgroundInformal abortions, commonly known as unsafe abortions, refer to all induced abortions that occur outside of formal healthcare settings conducted without the assistance of a licensed, trained healthcare provider. Despite the legalization of safe induced abortion care services, informal abortions continue to be among the major causes of maternal mortality and morbidity among young women in Rwanda living in rural areas with limited or no access to safe abortion care services. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experience of seeking informal abortions from the perspective of young women in rural Rwanda and to identify the underlying factors for these women seeking abortion care services outside of the formal healthcare setting.MethodsThis qualitative study was guided by a descriptive phenomenology in rural Rwanda, specifically in a selected district located in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Ten young women between 18 and 24 years of age, who had the experience of seeking informal abortion services from informal providers within the last eight years participated in audio-recorded, in-depth, face-to-face interviews. Collected data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s (1978) seven steps of the phenomenological method.ResultsThe study found that young Rwandan women still seek unregulated abortions to end their unintended pregnancies due to limited access to or utilization of sexual reproductive health and rights services. Among the reasons for seeking abortion care services outside of the formal healthcare setting in Rwanda were sociocultural and economic factors and the stigma associated with terminating unintended pregnancies before marriage.ConclusionIn light of the findings of this study, the authors recommend the Ministry of Health and its stakeholders to expand access to comprehensive adolescent and youth-friendly reproductive health and reproductive rights while addressing the sociocultural stigma through public awareness and economic factors that play a big role in unregulated abortions rather than safe abortion care services.

Association of different types of abortions with neonatal outcomes in subsequent pregnancy.

Abortion is an important issue that concerns all women. It holds great significance to investigate the correlation between various types of abortion histories and the neonatal outcomes of subsequent pregnancies. This retrospective cohort study included pregnant women who gave birth to singleton live-born in Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital from 2016 to 2020 (n = 75 773). Women with a history of abortion, including spontaneous abortion (SAB) and induced abortion (IA), were included in the exposed group, and the remaining were included in the unexposed group. The main outcomes were birthweight and preterm birth in the subsequent pregnancy. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association of maternal abortion history with birthweight and risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancy. Women who have experienced SAB history had an increased risk of delivering very low birth weight (VLBW) and preterm birth children, with (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.15-2.32; OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.07-1.79). However, women with a history of IA were at greater risk of macrosomia (OR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.06-1.27). We also observed that the likelihood of delivering a VLBW baby was heightened by the number of SAB occurrences (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.54-1.38; OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.01-3.36, OR = 5.71, 95% CI = 3.21-10.15). Our study indicates that pregnant women with a history of SAB are at an increased risk of delivering VLBW infants and experiencing preterm labour. The risk is positively associated with the number of SABs. Conversely, women with a history of IA are more likely to deliver macrosomic infants.

Effect of emotion management and nursing on patients with painless induced abortion after operation.

With an estimated 121 million abortions following unwanted pregnancies occurring worldwide each year, many countries are now committed to protecting women's reproductive rights. To analyze the impact of emotional management and care on anxiety and contraceptive knowledge mastery in painless induced abortion (IA) patients. This study was retrospective analysis of 84 patients with IA at our hospital. According to different nursing methods, the patients were divided into a control group and an observation group, with 42 cases in each group. Degree of pain, rate of postoperative uterine relaxation, surgical bleeding volume, and postoperative bleeding volume at 1 h between the two groups of patients; nursing satisfaction; and mastery of contraceptive knowledge were analyzed. After nursing, Self-Assessment Scale, Depression Self-Assessment Scale, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores were 39.18 ± 2.18, 30.27 ± 2.64, 6.69 ± 2.15, respectively, vs 45.63 ± 2.66, 38.61 ± 2.17, 13.45 ± 2.12, respectively, with the observation group being lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Comparing visual analog scales, the observation group was lower than the control group (4.55 ± 0.22 vs 3.23 ± 0.41; P < 0.05). The relaxation rate of the cervix after nursing, surgical bleeding volume, and 1-h postoperative bleeding volumes were 25 (59.5), 31.72 ± 2.23, and 22.41 ± 1.23, respectively, vs 36 (85.7), 42.39 ± 3.53, 28.51 ± 3.34, respectively, for the observation group compared to the control group. The observation group had a better nursing situation (P < 0.05), and higher nursing satisfaction and contraceptive knowledge mastery scores compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The application of emotional management in postoperative care of IA has an ideal effect.

Awe culture and corporate social security contributions

Despite their diverse backgrounds and histories, different countries and regions unanimously share the same awe culture that emphasizes family values and the sanctity of life. Using induced abortion in China's various provinces to measure the decline in awe culture, we find that a decrease in awe culture reduces corporate social security. Mechanism tests show that an increase in managers’ opportunism and risk preferences serve as underlying mechanisms.

Lifetime Induced Abortions and Live Births: A 40-Year Historical Cohort Study

ObjectivesLittle is known about whether induced abortions are associated with the final lifetime number of live births (life births). The objective of this study was to examine the association between the number of life births with the number of abortions a female has had in her lifetime. MethodsIn a national cohort design, we followed all Danish females from ages 15 to 44 years through the period 1977–2017 for induced abortions and live births. For each lifetime number of induced abortions, the average number of life births was assessed, and rates with 95% CI were calculated. ResultsThe study included 409 497 females who completed 222 482 induced abortions and 831 742 live births. Of 265 573 (64.9%) females who did not have any induced abortion, the average number of life births was 2.09 (95% CI 2.08–2.10). For females with 1 (23.4%), 2 (7.4%), 3 (2.6%), 4 (1.0%), and ≥5 (0.7%) induced abortions during their reproductive lifespan, the average number of life births was 1.88 (1.87–1.89), 1.99 (1.98–2.00), 2.09 (2.06–2.11), 2.13 (2.09–2.15), and 2.25 (2.21–2.29), respectively. The increase in number of life births in females with 1 to females with 5+ induced abortions was 4.7% for each additional induced abortion. ConclusionWe found the number of induced abortions during a woman’s reproductive lifespan to be positively correlated to the number of live births. This association is likely explained by a high fecundity in females with multiple pregnancies including induced abortions and suggests that even several induced abortions do not compromise a woman’s general reproductive end points.

Induced abortion and ectopic pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Existing evidence of the relationship between induced abortion and ectopic pregnancy has not been assessed rigorously. This systematic review provides a comprehensive evaluation to examine whether induced abortion (IA)can increase the rate of ectopic pregnancy (EP). We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane, CNKI, WanFang, and Sinomed databases since their inception until February 2023. Eligibility criteria included case-control studies and cohort studies that analyzed induced abortion associated with ectopic pregnancy. Data analyses were conducted by using R-studio Version 1.1.383 software. A total of 33 case-control studies and 7 cohort studies involving 132,926 participants were included. In case-control studies, there was a significant association between induced abortion and ectopic pregnancy by using single-factor analysis data (OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.81-2.98). Subgroup analysis by region suggested no statistical significance in the Americas (OR=1.15, 95% CI=0.92-1.43) and Eastern Mediterranean (OR=3.64, 95% CI=0.88-15.18). The relationship was significant by using multiple regression analysis data (OR=1.97, 95% CI=1.38-2.80). In cohort studies, statistical significance was found (OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.001-2.018) after omitting one study in sensitivity analysis. The combined results of the two types of studies suggested that induced abortion would increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy to some degree, but the conclusion needs to be considered with caution. This study indicated that IA could increase the risk of EP to some degree and the times of IA had a negative impact on the risk. Safe abortion and avoiding repeat abortion due to unintended pregnancy could protect women's fertility.

Developing a comprehensive abortion prevention program for couples based on I-change model: study protocol for a mixed method research

BackgroundIn countries where abortion laws are stringent, induced abortions are prevalent. The limited availability of abortion services within these regions amplifies the likelihood of maternal complications and mortality. Induced abortions represent a significant public health concern in Iran and are characterized by a multitude of intricate factors that remain largely unexplored. Gaps in knowledge persist pertaining to the influences driving induced abortion within the Iranian context. To adequately address the issue of induced abortion, it is imperative to discern the determinants that shape the decision-making process. The primary objective of this study was to design an intervention program focused on mitigating the occurrence of induced abortion within couples, with an emphasis on identifying the key factors that contribute to this phenomenon.MethodsThis study comprises three phases. In the first phase, a qualitative approach based on the I-change model will be employed to identify the factors influencing induced abortion. The second phase involves a systematic review to identify the determinants of induced abortion and strategies to prevent induced abortion. In the third phase, the outcomes of the qualitative approach and systematic review will be shared with experts and specialists using the Delphi method to categorize and prioritize strategies. Subsequently, based on the final consensus, a comprehensive program will be developed to prevent induced abortion.DiscussionThis study introduces an I-change model-based program for the prevention of induced abortion. The prevention of induced abortion holds great significance in mitigating maternal morbidity and mortality, curtailing healthcare expenses, and fostering population growth rates. The research findings will be disseminated via reputable peer-reviewed journals and communicated to the academic and medical communities. This dissemination aims to provide valuable insights that can contribute to the advancement of induced abortion and abortion prevention programs.

Is it an abortion: Classification of pregnancy-ending interventions after 24 weeks in the presence of lethal fetal anomalies

ObjectiveTo determine how obstetrician-gynecologists categorize pregnancy-ending interventions in the setting of lethal fetal anomalies. Study DesignWe conducted a sequential explanatory mixed methods study of U.S. obstetrician-gynecologists from May to July 2021. We distributed a cross-sectional online survey via email and social media and completed qualitative telephone interviews with a nested group of participants. We assessed institutional classification as induced abortion versus indicated delivery for six scenarios of ending a pregnancy with lethal anomalies after 24 weeks, comparing classification using McNemar chi-square tests with Benjamini-Hochburg correction for multiple comparisons with false discovery rate of 0.05. We performed thematic analysis of qualitative data and then performed a mixed methods analysis. ResultsWe included 205 respondents; most were female (84.4%), had provided abortion care (80.2%), and were general OB/GYNs (59.3%), with broad representation across pre-Dobbs state and institutional abortion policies. Twenty-one qualitative participants had similar characteristics to the whole sample. Scenarios were classified as induced abortion by the majority of respondents, ranging from 53.2% for 32-week induction for anencephaly, to 82.9% for feticidal injection and 24-week induction for anencephaly. Mixed methods analysis revealed the relevance of gestational age (later interventions less likely to be considered induced abortion) and procedure method and setting (dilation and evacuation, feticidal injection, and freestanding facility all increasing classification as induced abortion). ConclusionThere is wide variation in classification of pregnancy-ending interventions for lethal fetal anomalies, even among trained OB/GYNs. Method, timing, and location of ending a nonviable pregnancy influence classification, though perinatal outcome is unchanged. ImplicationsThe classification of pregnancy-ending interventions for lethal fetal anomalies after 24 weeks as indicated delivery versus induced abortion is reflective of sociopolitical regulatory factors as opposed to medical science. The regulatory requirement for classification negatively impacts access to care, especially in environments where induced abortion is legally restricted.

Post abortion contraception: A follow up study in women undergoing first and second trimester abortion at a tertiary care centre

: Worldwide 75 million women need post abortion care (PAC) services each year following safe or unsafe induced abortions and miscarriages. Majority of them do not wish to conceive in near future and are receptive towards using contraception. Contraceptive counselling and basket of choices should be made available to all women undergoing abortion and her right to decline or postpone this care should be respected while recognizing that each woman has a unique unmet need of contraception.: To compare the acceptance and continuation of various contraceptive choices offered after first and second trimester abortion. : A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in which women who underwent first and second trimester abortion over a period of one year were interviewed regarding their acceptance and continuation of the contraceptive method till six months post abortion.: A total of 378 women underwent first and second trimester abortions over one year, of which 61.3% had resulted from failure of contraception. Women were grouped into Group A for those undergoing first trimester and Group B for women undergoing second trimester abortion for study purpose. Average age of women in group A was 28.9 years and in group B was 26.5 years. Mean period of gestation of pregnancy in group A was 7.5weeks and in group B was 19.5 weeks. In group A 96% parous women had conceived as a result of failure of contraception of which 90% were using natural method (Coitus Interruptus). Group B majority (76.3%) women were nulliparous and early parous (P1, P2) and indication for termination of pregnancy in them were gross congenital anamolies (GCA) in fetus while in rest of multiparous were due to failure of contraception. With group A 53.1% nulliparous women did not opt for any contraception whereas 48.6% primiparous and second parous opted for long acting reversible contraception(LARC) –Intrauterine contraceptive device(IUCD) in contrast to 66% multiparous opting for permanent sterilization at the time of abortion. In group B 45.3% nulliparous and early parous opted for depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) and 64.2% multigravidas underwent permanent sterilization. : Post abortion care must include counselling and choice of contraceptive basket. Women with future reproductive plans preferred LARC after first trimester abortion whereas DMPA was most acceptable method of contraception after second trimester abortion. Women were most satisfied with LARC and permanent methods compared to methods that required daily intake of pills. There is need of effective contraceptive choices according to the reproductive plans of the women to reduce the burden, morbidity and mortality associated with abortions.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Subsequent First-Time Use of Psychiatric Treatment Among Fathers in Denmark.

Becoming a first-time parent is a major life-changing event and can be challenging regardless of the pregnancy outcome. However, little is known how different adverse pregnancy outcomes affect the father's risk of psychiatric treatment post partum. To examine the associations of adverse pregnancy outcomes with first-time psychiatric treatment in first-time fathers. This nationwide cohort study covered January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2017, with a 1-year follow-up completed December 31, 2018. Data were gathered from Danish, nationwide registers. Participants included first-time fathers with no history of psychiatric treatment. Data were analyzed from August 1, 2022, to February 20, 2024. Adverse pregnancy outcomes including induced abortion, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, small for gestational age (SGA) and not preterm, preterm with or without SGA, minor congenital malformation, major congenital malformation, and congenital malformation combined with SGA or preterm compared with a full-term healthy offspring. Prescription of psychotropic drugs, nonpharmacological psychiatric treatment, or having a psychiatric hospital contact up to 1 year after the end of the pregnancy. Of the 192 455 fathers included (median age, 30.0 [IQR, 27.0-34.0] years), 31.1% experienced an adverse pregnancy outcome. Most of the fathers in the study had a vocational educational level (37.1%). Fathers experiencing a stillbirth had a significantly increased risk of initiating nonpharmacological psychiatric treatment (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR], 23.10 [95% CI, 18.30-29.20]) and treatment with hypnotics (AHR, 9.08 [95% CI, 5.52-14.90]). Moreover, fathers experiencing an early induced abortion (≤12 wk) had an increased risk of initiating treatment with hypnotics (AHR, 1.74 [95% CI, 1.33-2.29]) and anxiolytics (AHR, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.18-2.73]). Additionally, late induced abortion (>12 wk) (AHR, 4.46 [95% CI, 3.13-6.38]) and major congenital malformation (AHR, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.05-1.74]) were associated with increased risk of nonpharmacological treatment. In contrast, fathers having an offspring being born preterm, SGA, or with a minor congenital malformation did not have a significantly increased risk of any of the outcomes. The findings of this Danish cohort study suggest that first-time fathers who experience stillbirths or induced abortions or having an offspring with major congenital malformation had an increased risk of initiating pharmacological or nonpharmacological psychiatric treatment. These findings further suggest a need for increased awareness around the psychological state of fathers following the experience of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Increased levels of villus-derived exosomal miR-29a-3p in normal pregnancy than uRPL patients suppresses decidual NK cell production of interferon-γ and exerts a therapeutic effect in abortion-prone mice

ObjectiveRecurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients have higher absolute numbers of decidual natural killer (dNK) cells with elevated intracellular IFN-γ levels leading to a pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu, which contributes to RPL pathogenesis. The main objective of this study was twofold: first to explore the regulatory effects and mechanisms of villus-derived exosomes (vEXOs) from induced abortion patients or RPL patients at the level of intracellular IFN-γ in dNK cells; second to determine the validity of application of vEXOs in the treatment of unexplained RPL (uRPL) through in vitro experiments and mouse models.MethodsExosomes were isolated from villus explants by ultracentrifugation, co-cultured with dNK cells, and purified by enzymatic digestion and magnetically activated cell sorting. Flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and RT-qPCR were used to determine IFN-γ levels. Comparative miRNA analysis of vEXOs from induced abortion (IA) and uRPL patients was used to screen potential candidates involved in dNK regulation, which was further confirmed by luciferase reporter assays. IA-vEXOs were electroporated with therapeutic miRNAs and encapsulated in a China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA)-approved hyaluronate gel (HA-Gel), which has been used as a clinical biomaterial in cell therapy for > 30 years. In vivo tracking was performed using 1,1-dioctadecyl-3,3,3,3-tetramethylindotricarbocyaine iodide (DiR) labelling. Tail-vein and uterine horn injections were used to evaluate therapeutic effects of the engineered exosomes in an abortion-prone mouse model (CBA/J × DBA/2 J). Placental growth was evaluated based on placental weight. IFN-γ mRNA levels in mouse placentas were measured by RT-qPCR.ResultsIFN-γ levels were significantly higher in dNK cells of uRPL patients than in IA patients. Both uRPL-vEXOs and IA-vEXOs could be efficiently internalized by dNK cells, whereas uRPL-vEXOs could not reduce the expression of IFN-γ by dNK cells as much as IA-vEXOs. Mechanistically, miR-29a-3p was delivered by vEXOs to inhibit IFN-γ production by binding to the 3′ UTR of IFN-γ mRNA in dNK cells. For in vivo treatment, application of the HA-Gel effectively prolonged the residence time of vEXOs in the uterine cavity via sustained release. Engineered vEXOs loaded with miR-29a-3p reduced the embryo resorption rate in RPL mice with no signs of systemic toxicity.ConclusionOur study provides the first evidence that villi can regulate dNK cell production of IFN-γ via exosome-mediated transfer of miR-29a-3p, which deepens our understanding of maternal–fetal immune tolerance for pregnancy maintenance. Based on this, we developed a new strategy to mix engineered vEXOs with HA-Gel, which exhibited good therapeutic effects in mice with uRPL and could be used for potential clinical applications in uRPL treatment.Graphical

Prevalence and associated factors of abortion among women with severe mental disorders

BackgroundAbortion behaviors among individuals with mental disorders presented major obstacles to women's health. However, few studies reported the prevalence and associated factors of abortion among women with severe mental disorders in China. Consequently, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of abortion among female patients in rural communities and identify potential health risks. MethodThis was a cross-sectional study of 276 women aged 18 years and older with severe mental disorders in rural areas of Shandong Province, China. The pregnancy history, abortion history and socio-demographic characteristics of women were investigated by questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the associated factors for different abortion behaviors. ResultThe study showed that 82.61 % (228/276) of patients had a pregnancy history. Among the patients with a pregnancy history, 43.42 % (99/228) reported having had at least one abortion, and 15.79 % (36/228) had more than one. In the other side, 31.58 % (72/228) of them experienced spontaneous abortion, while 12.72 % (29/228) experienced induced abortion. Age at first gestation (aOR 0.80, 95 % CI 0.70–0.90) and age at last gestation (aOR 1.17, 95 % CI 1.07–1.27) were both associated with abortion. Anxiety was related to spontaneous (aOR 1.08, 95 % CI 1.02–1.15) and repeat abortions (aOR 1.10, 95 % CI 1.01–1.19). In addition, religion (aOR 10.47, 95 % CI 2.81–39.01), number of children≥2 (aOR 0.18, 95 % CI 0.04–0.77), and family functioning (aOR 1.31, 95 % CI 1.06–1.63) were associated with induced abortion. ConclusionWomen with severe mental disorders in rural regions have notably higher rates of abortion compared to the general female population, particularly for spontaneous abortions. Gestational age and anxiety of pregnant patients deserve attention and preventive measures to avoid the outcomes of abortion.

Gastroschisis and omphalocele: Incidence and outcome

Gastroschisis and omphalocele are the most common congenital abdominal wall defects. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, other associated anomalies and the course of these diseases in Iceland. The study was retrospective. The population was all newborns who were admitted to the NICU of Children's Hospital Iceland due to gastroschisis or omphalocele in 1991-2020. Furthermore, all fetuses diagnosed prenatally or post mortem where the pregnancy ended in spontaneous or induced abortion, were included. During the study period, 54 infants were born with gastroschisis and five with omphalocele. The incidence of gastroschisis was 4.11 and omphalocele 0,38/10,000 births. There was no significant change in the incidence of the diseases during the study period. In addition, five fetuses were diagnosed with gastroschisis and 31 with omphalocele where the pregnancy was terminated. In addition to gastroschisis in the live born infants and fetuses the most common associated anomalies were in the gastrointestinal or urinary tract but in infants and fetuses with omphalocele anomalies of the cardiac, central nervous or skeletal systems were the most common. Sixteen fetuses diagnosed with omphalocele had trisomy 18. Mothers aged 16-20 were more likely to give birth to an infant with gastroschisis than older mothers (p< 0.001). Primary closure was successful in 86% of the infants. Those reached full feedings significantly earlier and were discharged earlier. Overall survival rate was 95%. Three children were still receiving parenteral nutrition at discharge due to short bowel syndrome. The incidence of gastroschisis in Iceland is in accordance with studies in other countries but but the incidence of omphalocele is lower, which can be partly explained by spontaneous or induced abortions. Other anomalies associated with omphalocele are more severe than those associated with gastroschisis. Primary closure was associated with more benign course. Children with gastroschisis may need prolonged parenteral nutrition due to shortening of their intestines.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Statement: RhD immune globulin after spontaneous or induced abortion at less than 12 weeks of gestation

Guidelines for management of first-trimester spontaneous and induced abortion vary regarding RhD testing and Rho(D) immune globulin administration. These existing guidelines are based on limited data that do not convincingly demonstrate the safety of withholding Rho(D) immune globulin for first-trimester abortions or pregnancy losses. Given the adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes associated with RhD alloimmunization, prevention of maternal sensitization is essential in RhD negative patients who may experience subsequent pregnancies. In care settings where RhD testing and Rho(D) immune globulin administration are logistically and financially feasible and do not hinder access to abortion care, we recommend both RhD testing and RhIg administration for spontaneous and induced abortion at <12 weeks of gestation in unsensitized, RhD-negative individuals.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Management of Incomplete Abortion with Oral 600 mg Misoprostol with Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA).

In the first trimester, almost one in five identified pregnancies end in spontaneous miscarriage, and another 22% result in induced abortion. After a spontaneous and/or induced abortion, there may be retained products of conception (POC). Because of its relatively poor efficacy and the unpredictability of the time interval until spontaneous evacuation, expectant treatment is not often chosen by healthcare professionals. In view of these facts, the current study's objective was to weigh the effectiveness of MVA and oral misoprostol 600 mg in managing incomplete abortion. The investigation was conducted at the tertiary care center in India. The survey was conducted for one year. Subjects were selected from those attending the department for either spontaneous or induced abortions. A total of 230 women were randomly assigned to receive the interventions of a single dose of oral misoprostol 600 mcg or MVA. They were equally distributed to two groups and observed for the various parameters of success, signs and symptoms, satisfaction, and complications. The obtained values were compared statistically for the significance at <0.05 of P values. Of the 200 subjects (30 lost to follow-up), there was no significant variance in the demographics, clinical outcomes, and complications between the groups. However, the pain, fever, shivering, and satisfaction parameters were statistically variant between the groups. Fever, shivering, and pain were lower for the MISO subjects while satisfaction was reported higher from subjects in MISO group. MISO and MVA are acceptable, safe, and efficient therapies for first-trimester un-complicated incomplete abortion. Nonetheless, misoprostol appears to be a marginally superior option to MVA in terms of accessibility, low therapy costs, reduced pain, and reduced demand for specialized personnel or equipment.

Association between Abortion and All-Cause and Cause-Specific Premature Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study from the UK Biobank.

Background: Concerns have been raised about the increasing prevalence of both spontaneous and induced abortions worldwide, yet their effect on premature mortality remains poorly understood. We aimed to examine the associations between abortion and all-cause and cause-specific premature mortality, and the potential effect modification by maternal characteristics. Methods: Women aged 39 to 71 years at baseline (2006 to 2010) with prior pregnancies were derived from the UK Biobank and categorized as no abortion history, spontaneous abortion alone, induced abortion alone, and both spontaneous and induced abortions. All-cause and cause-specific mortality were ascertained through linkage to death certificate data, with premature death defined as occurring before the age of 70. Results: Of the 225,049 ever gravid women, 43,418 (19.3%) reported spontaneous abortion alone, 27,135 (12.1%) reported induced abortion alone, and 10,448 (4.6%) reported both spontaneous and induced abortions. During a median of 14.4 years of follow-up, 5,353 deaths were recorded, including 3,314 cancer-related and 1,444 cardiovascular deaths. Compared with no abortion history, spontaneous abortion alone was associated with an increased risk of all-cause premature mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02 to 1.17), and induced abortion alone was associated with increased risks of all-cause (aHR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.22) and cardiovascular mortality (aHR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.48). The aHRs for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were higher for recurrent abortions, whether spontaneous or induced (P trend < 0.05). The increased risk of all-cause mortality associated with induced abortion was higher in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy than in those without (40% vs. 9%, P interaction = 0.045). Conclusions: Either spontaneous or induced abortion alone was associated with an increased risk of premature mortality, with induced abortion alone particularly linked to cardiovascular death. Future studies are encouraged to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Is Induced Abortion Evidence-Based Medical Practice?

Leaders of medical schools and health professional associations in the United States have affirmed their commitment to induced abortion by persistently asserting that the procedure is evidence-based medical practice. There is an objective structured process by which the status of “evidence-based” is attained. It requires a detailed description and documentation of the patient’s disease, illness or condition; an explanation for how the treatment intervention ameliorates the problem; the outcomes by which the effectiveness of the treatment is measured; and the comparison of the treatment with other alternative interventions available. We provide historical context which indicates that staunch abortion advocate thought leaders considered the right to abortion on demand to be inconsistent with the concept of evidence-based practice. We summarize the research on the reasons why women choose abortion, and we review the questions, designs and findings available in the relevant Cochrane Library systematic reviews. Our conclusion is that the quality of abortion science in general is quite weak, that the data necessary for valid research is scarce, and that the claims of evidence-based induced abortion are unsupported by the existing body of published knowledge.

Knowledge of abortion legality among health facility staff in Ghana.

Abortion has been legal for multiple indications in Ghana since 1985, and efforts have been made to expand the availability of safe abortion care in the years since. However clandestine, and potentially unsafe, abortions remain common, suggesting numerous barriers to access persist; one possible barrier is poor knowledge of the abortion law among those working in health facilities. Our study aimed to identify levels of legal knowledge among health facility staff across Ghana. Data for this paper are drawn from a nationally representative cross-sectional health facility survey conducted in 2018; our analytic sample includes 340 facilities that provide induced abortion and/or postabortion care (PAC). The survey collected data on provision of abortion and PAC, as well as knowledge of abortion legality and recommendations for reducing unsafe abortion. We used descriptive statistics to examine levels of knowledge and recommendations, and logistic regression to assess associations with individual and facility characteristics. Comprehensive knowledge of the legal indications for abortion was low among health facility staff; just 6% identified all legal indications, and the majority (83%) underestimated the number of conditions under which abortion is legal. Knowledge was higher for more restrictive indications, such as a woman's life being at risk, which was identified by 72% of respondents, than more broadly interpretable indications, such as mental health, identified by 29%. Respondents in facilities providing both induced abortion and PAC had better knowledge of several legal indications than those in facilities providing PAC only. Health facility staff have significant gaps in their knowledge of abortion legality. Knowledge of the law among this population is highly important for ensuring that abortion care is made available to the fullest extent of the law. Efforts are needed to improve knowledge of the law among providers and facility staff, particularly for indications with broad interpretability.

Impact of spontaneous abortion history and induced abortion history on perinatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies

BackgroundAt present, there are several studies on abortion history and perinatal outcomes, but there is no unified conclusion whether the history of abortion and different types of abortion are related to perinatal complications of subsequent pregnancy. We aim to study the impact of different types of abortion history on perinatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies.MethodsThis was a retrospective study from a maternity and infant hospital in Shanghai, China from 2016 to 2020. Pregnant women who gave birth to live singleton infant were included (n = 75,773). We classified abortion into spontaneous abortion (SAB) and induced abortion (IA). We compared the perinatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies with different abortion histories and used Logistic regression analysis to evaluate the associations between pre-pregnancy abortion history with perinatal outcomes.ResultsWe observed that pregnant women with a history of abortion were more likely to have a premature delivery (0.99% VS 0.45%), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (13.40% VS 10.29%), placenta abnormality (8.16% VS 5.06%), placenta previa (5.65% VS 3.75%), placenta accreta (0.18% VS 0.04%), and placenta adhesion (2.79% VS 1.03%) than those who obtained singleton pregnancies without a history of abortion. When confounding factors were adjusted, differences in placenta abnormality still existed (excluding placenta abruption). The odds ratios and 95% confidence interval of placenta previa, placenta accreta, and placenta adhesion in pregnant women with only SAB history, only IA history, and both abortion history were 1.294(1.174–1.427), 1.272(1.159–1.396), and 1.390(1.188–1.625), 2.688(1.344–5.374), 2.549(1.268–5.125), and 5.041(2.232–11.386), 2.170(1.872–2.515), 2.028(1.738–2.366), and 3.580(2.917–4.395), respectively.ConclusionsOur research showed that pregnant women who have a history of abortion before pregnancy were more likely to have premature birth, GDM, placenta previa, placenta accreta, and placenta adhesion. After adjusting for confounding factors, we found that the history of SAB, IA, and both SAB and IA history were related to the increased risk of placenta previa, placenta accreta, and placenta adhesion.

Fear of childbirth after induced abortion in primiparous women: Population-based register study from Finland.

Fear of childbirth (FOC) is a common obstetrical challenge that complicates about every 10th pregnancy. Background factors of FOC are diverse. We evaluated the association of induced abortion (IA) and FOC in subsequent pregnancy. Population-based register study based on three Finnish national registers: the Register of Induced Abortions, the Medical Birth Register and the Hospital Discharge Register. The study cases were primigravid women undergoing an IA in 2000-2015 and subsequent pregnancy ending in live singleton birth up to 2017. Each case had three controls, matched by age and residential area, whose first pregnancy ended in a live birth. The main outcome was the incidence of FOC in the subsequent pregnancy. In a secondary analysis, we assessed other risk factors for FOC. The study cohort consisted of 21 455 women and 63 425 controls. Altogether, 4.2% of women had a diagnosis of FOC. The incidence was higher in women with a history of IA than in controls (5.6% vs 3.7%, P < 0.001). A history of IA was associated with higher odds for FOC: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.20 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.30. In addition, a history of psychiatric diagnosis (aOR 3.48, 95% CI 3.15-3.83), high maternal age, 30-39 years old (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.43-1.67; P < 0.001) and ≥40 years old (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 2.37-3.77; P < 0.001) and smoking (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11-1.31; P < 0.001) were associated with increased odds for FOC. Women living in densely populated or rural areas and those with lower socioeconomic class had lower odds for FOC. A history of IA is associated with increased odds for FOC in subsequent pregnancy. However, the associations of FOC with a history of psychiatric diagnosis and elevated maternal age (especially ≥40 years old) are more pronounced.