Characteristics of women undergoing induced abortion: Results of a case-control study from northern Italy

doi:10.1016/S0010-7824(85)80007-X

Contraception

Volume 32, Issue 6, December 1985, Pages 637-649

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-7824(85)80007-X Get rights and content

Abstract

In order to identify subgroups of women at elevated risk of induced abortion, personal characteristics and habits, selected medical histories and contraceptive practices of 873 women undergoing legal abortion in various areas of Northern Italy were compared with those of 504 control subjects identified in family planning clinics of the same hospitals or area health authorities. When age was allowed for, the risk of induced abortion was not strongly influenced by marital status, education or other indicators of social class. However, women who were employed, independently from the type of occupation, showed markedly lower abortion risks than housewives. Among various indicators of sexual habits investigated, the strongest determinant of legal abortion was the frequency of sexual intercourses over the previous six months, women with less frequent intercourses showing a markedly elevated risk estimate (RR = 2.82). Induced abortion was less frequent among ex-smokers and more frequent in heavy smokers, but was not appreciably influenced by several other indicators of lifestyle habits and history of gynaecological or psychiatric complaints. The risk of abortion was not influenced by the number of livebirths, but was lower for women with later age at first birth. Less than 5% of case and control subjects reported more than two previous induced abortions, thus indicating that abortion is more of an “accidental” event rather than a widespread contraceptive practice. However, over three-quarters of abortions occurred in women reporting no contraception at all or coitus interruptus, thus underlining the scope for family planning education in this population.

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Cited by (11)

Paternal and maternal smoking habits before conception and during the first trimester: Relation to spontaneous abortion
1998, Annals of Epidemiology
PURPOSE: This study examined the association between maternal smoking before and during the first trimester of pregnancy and spontaneous abortion.
METHODS: We have been conducting a hospital-based case-control study on risk factors for spontaneous abortion in the greater Milan area. We collected information from 782 cases of spontaneous abortions and 1543 controls (women who delivered at term healthy infants).
RESULTS: With respect to never smokers, the odds ratio (OR) were 0.7 (95%, confidence interval (CI), 0.5–1.0) for women who quit smoking and 1.3 (95% CI, 1.0–1.6) for those who continued during pregnancy. Women who smoked more than 10 cigarettes/day in the first trimester were at increased risk of miscarriage, with an OR of 1.4 (95% CI, 1.0–2.1). No relationship was evident between the number of cigarettes smoked before conception and the risk of abortion. Likewise, no association emerged between paternal smoking and miscarriage. Moreover, no significant interaction or modification effect was obtained when strata of age and other major characteristics were investigated.
CONCLUSIONS: The risk of abortion associated with cigarette smoking during the first trimester of pregnancy was measurable and noticeable in this population, and accounted for 9% (95% CI, 6–13%) of all cases. The increased risk of spontaneous abortion in women smoking during pregnancy is a further reason to encourage pregnant women to quit.
Descriptive epidemiology of induced abortion in Italy 1979-1990
1992, Contraception
Trends of induced abortions in Italy from 1979 to 1990 have been analysed in terms of overall age-standardised rates and ratios, and according to various characteristics of the women. Temporal trends were characterised by an increase of rates from $11.3 1,000$ women aged 15–49 in 1979 to 16.5 in 1982 and then followed by a steady decrease to $11.1 1,000$ in 1990. Ratios increased from $228 1,000$ livebirths in 1979 to 389 in 1984 and then declined to 286 in 1990. Thus, the overall declines from the early 1980's to 1990 were 33% in rates and 26% in ratios. The same pattern was followed by rates and ratios in various age groups. The highest rates were observed in women aged 25–29 years ( $27.0 1,000$ in 1982 and $17.9 1,000$ in 1988) and 30–34 years ( $25.5 1,000$ in 1982 and $19.0 1,000$ in 1988), and the lowest ones were in women aged 45–49 ( $1.0 1,000$ in 1982 and $0.8 1,000$ in 1988). Ratios reached the highest values in 1984 in most age groups, particularly in women between 40 and 49 years and under 20 years. Ratios increased constantly with number of previous deliveries. At all levels of education,a decline in rates has been observed since 1982, but in the highest educational level,the decline started earlier and was more substantial. The decline in rates among more educated women from 1982 to 1987 was 36%, but it was only 9% among less educated ones. Scope for further preventive action is indicated by the differences according to education and by the slowing down of the decline in the more recent years. This preventive intervention should be focused particularly to women of lower educational level and to those with two or more births.
Safety of voluntary interruption of pregnancy (VIP) in two healthcare institutions in Medellin, Colombia, in 2019. Historical cohort
2022, Revista Colombiana de Obstetricia y Ginecologia
Recent trends in induced abortions: A global perspective
2018, Epidemiology Biostatistics and Public Health
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2002, Journal of Epidemiology
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^*: This work was conducted within the framework of the C.N.R. (Italian National Research Council) Applied Project, “Preventive and Rehabilitative Medicine” (Contracts No. 84.02233.56 and No. 84.02299.56).

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Characteristics of women undergoing induced abortion: Results of a case-control study from northern Italy*

Abstract

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Dati statistici sulle interruzioni volontarie della gravidanza

Boll Mensile Stat

Andamento demografico e sanitario

Notiziario

Legal abortion in Italy, 1978–1980

N Engl J Med

Statistical aspects of the analysis of data from retrospective studies of disease

JNCI

Estimability and estimation in case-referent studies

Am J Epidemiol