The duration of gestation at previous induced abortion and its impacts on subsequent births: A nationwide registry-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous induced abortions have been associated with adverse birth outcomes. However, only a few studies have considered the possible influence of gestational age at induced abortion. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the impacts of gestational age during prior induced abortion(s) on subsequent births among first-time mothers in Finland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: First-time mothers (n = 418 690) with singleton births between 1996 and 2013 were identified from the Finnish Medical Birth Register and linked to the Abortion Register. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the risk (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) of birth outcomes such as prematurity, low birthweight, perinatal death and small for gestational age (SGA). RESULTS: Higher risk was determined for extremely preterm birth (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.53-3.39) and very low birthweight (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.22-2.16) in women having had late-induced abortion(s) (≥12 gestational weeks) compared with women having had early-induced abortion(s) (<12 gestational weeks); after adjusting for women's background characteristics, abortion method and interval between the pregnancies. When the analysis was limited to a single abortion, an increased risk was found for extremely preterm birth (OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.02-2.81). Higher risks were found for extremely preterm (OR 4.09; 95% CI 2.05-8.18) and very low birthweight (OR 2.65; 95% CI 1.61-4.35) among women with two or more late-induced abortions compared with those with two or more early-induced abortions. Worse outcomes were seen after a late-induced abortion compared to an early-induced abortion for both medically and surgically induced abortion. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of subsequent adverse birth outcomes is very small if any, but the risk is higher with increasing gestational age at the time of induced abortion. Our study supports reduction of unintended pregnancy and offering abortion services without delay and as early in gestation as possible.

Women's Autonomy and Skilled Attendance During Pregnancy and Delivery in Nepal.

Objectives This study aims to explore the association between women's autonomy and skilled attendance during pregnancy and delivery in Nepal. Methods We adopt data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2011). We include only married women who gave birth in the 5 years preceding the survey (N = 4148). Women's autonomy was assessed on the basis of four indicators of decision making: healthcare, visiting friends or relatives, household purchases and spending earned money. Each indicator was dichotomized (yes/no) and then summarized into a single variable to measure overall autonomy. Next, we measured health attendance (skilled vs. unskilled) during antenatal and delivery care. The association between women's autonomy and skilled attendance was analysed using a logistic regression model. Results Most women had a medium (40 %) and high (35 %) level of overall autonomy. The proportion of women accessing skilled providers during antenatal and delivery care was 51 and 36 %. Women with autonomy in healthcare, visiting friends or relatives, making household purchases and spending money earned were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving care from skilled providers during antenatal care and delivery. An elevated probability of access to skilled attendance during antenatal (aOR 1.33; 95 % CI 1.10-1.59) and delivery care (aOR 1.38; 95 % CI 1.12-1.70) was reported among women with higher levels of overall autonomy. Conclusion Women's autonomy was significantly associated with the maternal health care utilization by skilled attendants. This study will provide insights for policy makers to develop strategies in improving maternal health.

Factors influencing the risk of repeat termination of pregnancy: A register-based study in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess how factors such as sociodemographic characteristics, termination of pregnancy (TOP) related factors and contraception affect the risk of repeat TOP. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This is a nationwide register-based study of 193,741 women who had TOP(s) during 1987-2015, using the Finnish Register of Induced Abortions. The risk of various factors, such as age, marital status, residence, parity, TOP related factors and contraception, was assessed separately for each repeat TOP. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate risk of different factors for repeat TOPs. RESULTS: 21% of the women having TOP had repeat TOPs during the years 1987-2015. Among women with repeat TOPs, more than 70% had one repeat TOP and the rest had two or more. Older, married and rural or semi-urban women had reduced risk of repeat TOPs. Adjusted risk for one repeat TOP was higher among parous women (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.61-1.72). No significant risk for repeat TOP was observed by method in sub-analysis for the recent period after 2006. Women using less reliable (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.23) and unreliable (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.23-1.43) contraception had increased risk of repeat TOP than women using reliable contraception. CONCLUSION: Older age, being married, residing in rural or semi-urban areas and using reliable contraception were found to be protective factors for repeat TOPs whereas, parous women had higher risk for repeat TOPs. Proper counselling regarding contraception and use of reliable contraception immediately after TOP should be encouraged.

Correction: Perinatal outcomes after induced termination of pregnancy by methods: A nationwide register-based study of first births in Finland 1996-2013.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184078.].

Perinatal outcomes after induced termination of pregnancy by methods: A nationwide register-based study of first births in Finland 1996-2013.

BACKGROUND: Women with previous terminations of pregnancy (TOPs) before their first birth have been associated with poorer perinatal outcomes. However, previous studies on the perinatal outcomes by the method in previous TOPs are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To examine the perinatal outcomes of the first-time mothers with singleton births, by the method of previous TOP (medical and surgical vs no TOP, and surgical vs medical). METHOD: This is a nationwide register-based study including 419,879 first-time Finnish mothers with singleton birth during the time period 1996-2013. Mothers having their first birth were identified from the Medical Birth Register and linked to the Abortion Register by their identification numbers. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the risk for preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age and perinatal death by the method in previous TOPs. RESULTS: Among the first-time mothers, 87.0% had no history of TOPs, 3.2% had a history of medical TOP(s), 9.2% had a history of surgical TOP(s) and 0.6% had a history of both (medical and surgical) TOP(s). No significant differences in perinatal outcomes were found among the women with surgical TOPs, compared to the women with no TOPs. In unadjusted analysis, increased odds for preterm birth and low birth weight were found when comparing women having previous surgical TOPs with medical TOPs. Even after the adjustment of potential confounders, odds for preterm birth < 37 weeks (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.04-1.36) and low birth weight < 2500 g (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.00-1.35) remained significant. After restricting data to the single TOP, the results were similar; OR for both preterm birth and low birth weight was 1.18 (95% CIs = 1.02-1.36 and 1.01-1.38). CONCLUSION: Perinatal outcomes did not differ among the mothers with surgical TOPs compared to the mothers with no TOPs, while the outcomes were poorer after surgical TOP(s) than after medical TOP(s).