States' Abortion Laws Associated With Intimate Partner Violence-Related Homicide Of Women And Girls In The US, 2014-20.

Women who are pregnant or recently gave birth are significantly more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than nonpregnant, nonpostpartum women of reproductive age, implicating the risk of fatal violence conferred by pregnancy itself. The rapidly increasing passage of state legislation has restricted or banned access to abortion care across the US. We used the most recent and only source of population-based data to examine the association between state laws that restrict access to abortion and trends in intimate partner violence-related homicide among women and girls ages 10-44 during the period 2014-20. Using robust difference-in-differences ecologic modeling, we found that enforcement of each additional Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP) law was associated with a 3.4 percent increase in the rate of intimate partner violence-related homicide in this population. We estimated that 24.3 intimate partner violence-related homicides of women and girls ages 10-44 were associated with TRAP laws implemented in the states and years included in this analysis. Assessment of policies that restrict access to abortion should consider their potential harm to reproductive-age women through the risk for violent death.

Descripción de las personas gestantes afiliadas a OSEP que solicitan una interrupción del embarazo / Description of pregnant people affiliated to osep who request a pregnancy interruption

En 2021 entró en vigencia en Argentina la Ley N.º 27.610. El objetivo es describir características de afiliadas a OSEP que solicitaron interrupción del embarazo (SIE).Trabajo observacional descriptivo. Se analizaron las variables del 0800 del Ministerio de Salud de la Nación de todas las personas que SIE con OSEP, entre el 24/01 y 31/12/2021. Los datos fueron analizados con SPSS Statistics. Se utilizaron moda, mediana, porcentaje, tasa y el chi2. Se recibieron 427 SIE, se concretaron 330 (77,3%). Solicitaron ive: media 28,59 años. Modo 19 y 33 años. Concretaron ive: modo 22 años. 84,5% se realizó ambulatorio con misoprostol. De las SIE, 50,4% eran solteras, 43,4% trabajaba, 59,1% tenía secundario completo. Se desconoce 32,8%. De las SIE, 52,7% refirió haber estado utilizando MAC (54,2% preservativo; 37,4% anticonceptivos orales; 2,8% métodos "naturales"; 2,2% DIU). La mayor cantidad fue de zonas urbanas del Gran Mendoza. Sin embargo, se observan tasas elevadas en zonas rurales respecto de algunas zonas urbanas y más pobladas. Se observó progresión de SIE a lo largo del año. Un 11% después de SIE decidió continuar con el embarazo. Aparentemente ninguna de las variables tuvo relación con esa decisión. El MAC utilizado fue mayormente preservativo y anticonceptivos orales. Esto podría indicar falta de educación y poco acceso a métodos de larga duración. La problemática de interrupción es transversal. En base a los resultados de este trabajo, las personas sin pareja conviviente, ante un embarazo no planificado serían las que SIE. Ninguna otra variable parece actuar como determinante. Tampoco del paso de la solicitud a la interrupción efectiva o a la continuación del embarazo. Hay que aumentar la accesibilidad a MAC en zonas rurales (AU)

In 2021, Law No. 27610 entered into force in Argentina. The objective is to describe characteristics of people with OSEP who requested termination of pregnancy (PWRTP). Descriptive observational work. The variables of the 0800 of the Ministry of Health of Argentina of all the PWRTP with OSEP, between 01/24 and 12/31/2021, were analyzed. Data were analyzed with SPSS Statistics. Mode, median, percentage, rate and chi2 were used. PWRTP: 427 requests were received, 330 (77.3%) were completed. PWRTP: mean 28.59 years. Mode 19 and 33 years. People who had an abortion: mode 22 years. 84.5% were performed on an outpatient basis with misoprostol. 50.4% of the PWRTP were single, 43.4% worked, 59.1% had completed high school, 32.8% unknown, 52.7% reported having been using contraceptive methods (CM): 54.2% condoms; 37.4% oral contraceptives; 2.8% "natural" methods; 2.2% IUDs. The largest amount was from urban areas of Mendoza. However, high rates are observed in rural areas. A progression of the amount of PWRTP was observed throughout the year. 11% after requesting an abortion decided to continue with the pregnancy. Apparently none of the variables was related to that decision. The CM used were mostly condoms and oral contraceptives. This may indicate a lack of education and poor access to long-acting CM. The problem of interruption is transversal. People without a cohabiting partner, faced with an unplanned pregnancy, are the ones who RTP. No other variable seems to act as a determinant. Nor from the transition from the request to the effective interruption or continuation of the pregnancy. We must increase the accessibility to CM in rural areas (AU)

Texas' 2021 Ban on Abortion in Early Pregnancy and Changes in Live Births.

This study evaluates changes in the number of births in Texas after passage of Texas' Senate Bill 8 (SB8), which bans abortions as early as 5 weeks' gestation.

Travel as a barrier to abortion provided by law access. Brazil, 2010-2019 / Deslocamento intermunicipal como barreira de acesso ao aborto previsto em lei. Brasil, 2010-2019

Abstract Objectives: to analyze abortions provided by law (APL) carried out in Brazil between 2010 and 2019 regarding the need for travel of users, as well as the expenditure of time and money on these trips. Methods: descriptive study of records of outpatient care and hospitalizations for APL between 2010 and 2019. The municipal provision and the inter-municipal flows for the realization of the APL, the availability of public transportation for this travel, as well as its cost and time, were identified. Results: 2.6% of Brazilian municipalities had a sustained provision of APL between 2010 and 2019. Of the 15,889 APL performed, 14.8% occurred in municipalities other than those where the user lived. The smaller the population size of the municipality of residence, the higher the percentage of the need for travel. Of these inter-municipal trips, 16.0% had regular round-trip links by public transport. The total travel time ranged from 26 minutes to 4 and a half days, and the cost from R$2.70 to R$1,218.06; the highest medians were among residents of the Midwest region. Conclusions: the concentration of services, the deficiency of inter-municipal public transport, and the expenditure on travel to access the APL are barriers to users that need the health service, demanding public policies to overcome them.

Resumo Objetivos: analisar as restrições aos abortos previstos em lei (APL) realizados no Brasil entre 2010 e 2019 quanto à necessidade de deslocamento das usuárias, bem como quanto ao dispêndio de tempo e dinheiro nessas viagens. Métodos: estudo descritivo dos registros de atendimentos ambulatoriais e internações para APL entre 2010 e 2019. Foram identificados a oferta municipal e os fluxos intermunicipais para realização dos APL, a disponibilidade de transporte coletivo para esse deslocamento, bem como seu custo e tempo. Resultados: 2,6% dos municípios brasileiros tiveram oferta sustentada de APL entre 2010 e 2019. Dos 15.889 APL realizados, 14,8% se deram em municípios diferentes daqueles de residência da usuária. Quanto menor o porte populacional do município de residência, maior o percentual com necessidade de viajar. Desses deslocamentos intermunicipais, 16,0% tinham ligações regulares de ida e retorno em transporte público. O tempo de viagem total variou de 26 minutos a quatro dias e meio, e o custo de R$ 2,70 a R$ 1.218,06; as maiores medianas estiveram entre as residentes da região Centro-Oeste. Conclusões: a concentração de serviços, a deficiência de transporte público intermunicipal, bem como o dispêndio com a viagem para acesso ao APL são barreiras às usuárias que precisam do serviço de saúde, demandando políticas públicas para sua superação.

Dobbs Decision Threatens Full Breadth of Ob-Gyn Training.

This Medical News article discusses how the overturning of Roe v Wade will change training for future obstetrician-gynecologists in states where abortion is banned or severely restricted.

Requests for Self-managed Medication Abortion Provided Using Online Telemedicine in 30 US States Before and After the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization Decision.

This study assesses changes in online telemedicine requests to self-manage abortions with medications before vs after the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade.

Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2019.

PROBLEM/CONDITION: CDC conducts abortion surveillance to document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions and number of abortion-related deaths in the United States. PERIOD COVERED: 2019. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM: Each year, CDC requests abortion data from the central health agencies for 50 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City. For 2019, 49 reporting areas voluntarily provided aggregate abortion data to CDC. Of these, 48 reporting areas provided data each year during 2010-2019. Census and natality data were used to calculate abortion rates (number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years) and ratios (number of abortions per 1,000 live births), respectively. Abortion-related deaths from 2018 were assessed as part of CDC's Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System (PMSS). RESULTS: A total of 629,898 abortions for 2019 were reported to CDC from 49 reporting areas. Among 48 reporting areas with data each year during 2010-2019, in 2019, a total of 625,346 abortions were reported, the abortion rate was 11.4 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years, and the abortion ratio was 195 abortions per 1,000 live births. From 2018 to 2019, the total number of abortions increased 2% (from 614,820 total abortions), the abortion rate increased 0.9% (from 11.3 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years), and the abortion ratio increased 3% (from 189 abortions per 1,000 live births). From 2010 to 2019, the total number of reported abortions, abortion rate, and abortion ratio decreased 18% (from 762,755), 21% (from 14.4 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years), and 13% (from 225 abortions per 1,000 live births), respectively. In 2019, women in their 20s accounted for more than half of abortions (56.9%). Women aged 20-24 and 25-29 years accounted for the highest percentages of abortions (27.6% and 29.3%, respectively) and had the highest abortion rates (19.0 and 18.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 20-24 and 25-29 years, respectively). By contrast, adolescents aged <15 years and women aged ≥40 years accounted for the lowest percentages of abortions (0.2% and 3.7%, respectively) and had the lowest abortion rates (0.4 and 2.7 abortions per 1,000 women aged <15 and ≥40 years, respectively). However, abortion ratios in 2019 were highest among adolescents (aged ≤19 years) and lowest among women aged 25-39 years. Abortion rates decreased from 2010 to 2019 for all women, regardless of age. The decrease in abortion rate was highest among adolescents compared with any other age group. From 2018 to 2019, abortion rates decreased or did not change among women aged ≤24 years; however, the abortion rate increased among those aged ≥25 years. Abortion ratios also decreased or did not change from 2010 to 2019 for all age groups, except adolescents aged <15 years. The decrease in abortion ratio was highest among women aged ≥40 years compared with any other age group. From 2018 to 2019, abortion ratios increased for all age groups, except adolescents aged <15 years. In 2019, 79.3% of abortions were performed at ≤9 weeks' gestation, and nearly all (92.7%) were performed at ≤13 weeks' gestation. During 2010-2019, the percentage of abortions performed at >13 weeks' gestation remained consistently low (≤9.0%). In 2019, the highest proportion of abortions were performed by surgical abortion at ≤13 weeks' gestation (49.0%), followed by early medical abortion at ≤9 weeks' gestation (42.3%), surgical abortion at >13 weeks' gestation (7.2%), and medical abortion at >9 weeks' gestation (1.4%); all other methods were uncommon (<0.1%). Among those that were eligible (≤9 weeks' gestation), 53.7% of abortions were early medical abortions. In 2018, the most recent year for which PMSS data were reviewed for pregnancy-related deaths, two women died as a result of complications from legal induced abortion. INTERPRETATION: Among the 48 areas that reported data continuously during 2010-2019, overall decreases were observed during 2010-2019 in the total number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions; however, from 2018 to 2019, 1%-3% increases were observed across all measures. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION: Abortion surveillance can be used to help evaluate programs aimed at promoting equitable access to patient-centered quality contraceptive services in the United States to reduce unintended pregnancies.

State Abortion Policies and Maternal Death in the United States, 2015‒2018.

Objectives. To examine associations between state-level variation in abortion-restricting policies in 2015 and total maternal mortality (TMM), maternal mortality (MM), and late maternal mortality (LMM) from 2015 to 2018 in the United States. Methods. We derived an abortion policy composite index for each state based on 8 state-level abortion-restricting policies. We fit ecological state-level generalized linear Poisson regression models with robust standard errors to estimate 4-year TMM, MM, and LMM rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with a 1-unit increase in the abortion index, adjusting for state-level covariates. Results. States with the higher score of abortion policy composite index had a 7% increase in TMM (adjusted rate ratio [ARR] = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.12) compared with states with lower abortion policy composite index, after we adjusted for state-level covariates. Among individual abortion policies, states with a licensed physician requirement had a 51% higher TMM (ARR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.15, 1.99) and a 35% higher MM (ARR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.09, 1.67), and states with restrictions on Medicaid coverage of abortion care had a 29% higher TMM (ARR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.61). Conclusions. Restricting access to abortion care at the state level may increase the risk for TMM.

Recurrence, postponing pregnancy, and termination rates after hyperemesis gravidarum: Follow up of the MOTHER study.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) complicates 1% of pregnancies and has a major impact on maternal quality of life and well-being. We know very little about HG's long-term impact after an affected pregnancy, including recurrence rates in future pregnancies, which is essential information for women considering subsequent pregnancies. In this study, we aimed to prospectively measure the recurrence rate of HG and the number of postponed and terminated subsequent pregnancies due to HG. We also aimed to evaluate if there were predictive factors that could identify women at increased risk for HG recurrence, and postponing and terminating subsequent pregnancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study. A total of 215 women admitted for HG to public hospitals in the Netherlands were enrolled in the original MOTHER randomized controlled trial and associated observational cohort. Seventy-three women were included in this follow-up study. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Recurrent HG was defined as vomiting symptoms accompanied by any of the following: multiple medication use, weight loss, admission, tube feeding or if nausea and vomiting symptoms were severe enough to affect life and/or work. Outcome measures were recurrence, postponing, and termination rates due to HG. Univariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors associated with HG recurrence, and postponing and terminating subsequent pregnancies. RESULTS: Thirty-five women (48%) became pregnant again of whom 40% had postponed their pregnancy due to HG. HG recurred in 89% of pregnancies. One woman terminated and eight women (23%) considered terminating their pregnancy because of recurrent HG. Twenty-four out of 38 women did not get pregnant again because of HG in the past. Univariable logistic regression analysis identifying possible predictive factors found that having a western background was associated with having weight loss due to recurrent HG in subsequent pregnancies (odds ratio 12.9, 95% CI 1.3-130.5, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: High rates of HG recurrence and a high number of postponed pregnancies due to HG were observed. Women can be informed of a high chance of recurrence to enable informed family planning.

Gestational age limits for abortion and cross-border reproductive care in Europe: a mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the experiences of women who travel within Europe for abortion care from countries with relatively liberal laws. This paper aims to assess the primary reasons for travel among a sample of women who travelled from European countries with relatively liberal abortion laws to obtain abortion care mainly in the UK and the Netherlands. DESIGN: Multi-country, 5-year mixed methods study on barriers to legal abortion and travel for abortion. SETTING: UK, the Netherlands and Spain. POPULATION OR SAMPLE: We present quantitative data from 204 surveys, and qualitative data from 30 in-depth interviews with pregnant people who travelled to the UK, the Netherlands and Spain from countries where abortion is legal on broad grounds within specific gestational age (GA) limits. METHODS: Mixed-methods. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: GA when presenting at abortion clinic, primary reason for abortion-related travel. RESULTS: Study participants overwhelmingly reported travelling for abortion because they had exceeded GA limits in their country of residence. Participants also reported numerous delays and barriers to receiving care. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the need for policies that support access to abortion throughout pregnancy and illustrate that early access to it is necessary but not sufficient to meet people's reproductive health needs. FUNDING: This study is funded by the European Research Council (ERC). TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: This study shows that GA limits drive women from EU countries where abortion is legal to seek abortions abroad.

Estimation of the number of people with Down syndrome in Europe.

We aimed to estimate the nonselective live birth prevalence, actual live birth prevalence, reduction percentage because of selective terminations, and population prevalence for Down syndrome (DS) in European countries. The number of people with DS alive in a country was estimated by first modeling the number of live births of children with DS by year of birth. Subsequently, for these different years of birth, survival curves for people with DS were constructed and then applied to these yearly estimates of live births with DS. For Europe, 2011-2015, we estimate 8,031 annual live births of children with DS, which would have been around 17,331 births annually, absent selective terminations. The estimated reduction of live birth prevalence was, on average, 54%, varying between 0% in Malta and 83% in Spain. As of 2015, we estimate 417,000 people with DS are living in Europe; without elective terminations, there would have been about 572,000 people with DS, which corresponds to a population reduction rate of 27%. Such statistics can be important barometers for prenatal testing trends and resource allocation within countries. Disability awareness initiatives and public policy initiatives can also be better grounded with these more precise estimates.

Induced Abortion Incidence and Safety in Rajasthan, India: Evidence that Expansion of Services is Needed.

Despite induced abortion being broadly legal in India, up-to-date information on its frequency and safety is not readily available. Using direct and indirect methodological approaches, this study measures the one-year incidence and safety of induced abortions among women in the state of Rajasthan. The analysis utilizes data from a population-based survey of 5,832 reproductive aged women who reported on the abortion experiences of their closest female confidante in addition to themselves. We separately assess correlates of having a recent and most unsafe abortion using multivariable regression models. The confidante approach produced a one-year abortion incidence estimate of 23 per 1,000 women, whereas the respondent estimate is 9.5 per 1,000 women. Based on the confidante estimate, approximately 441,000 abortions occurred in Rajasthan over a year. Overall, 25 and 29 percent of respondent and confidante reported abortions were classified as most unsafe. Results suggest that abortion remains an integral component of women's fertility regulation, and that a liberal law alone is insufficient to guarantee access to safe abortion services. Existing policies on abortion in India need updating to permit task sharing in line with current recommendations to expand service delivery so that demand is met through provision of safe and accessible services.

Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2018.

PROBLEM/CONDITION: CDC conducts abortion surveillance to document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions and number of abortion-related deaths in the United States. PERIOD COVERED: 2018. DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEM: Each year, CDC requests abortion data from the central health agencies for 50 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City. For 2018, 49 reporting areas voluntarily provided aggregate abortion data to CDC. Of these, 48 reporting areas provided data each year during 2009-2018. Census and natality data were used to calculate abortion rates (number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years) and ratios (number of abortions per 1,000 live births), respectively. Abortion-related deaths from 2017 were assessed as part of CDC's Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System (PMSS). RESULTS: A total of 619,591 abortions for 2018 were reported to CDC from 49 reporting areas. Among 48 reporting areas with data each year during 2009-2018, in 2018, a total of 614,820 abortions were reported, the abortion rate was 11.3 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years, and the abortion ratio was 189 abortions per 1,000 live births. From 2017 to 2018, the total number of abortions and abortion rate increased 1% (from 609,095 total abortions and from 11.2 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years, respectively), and the abortion ratio increased 2% (from 185 abortions per 1,000 live births). From 2009 to 2018, the total number of reported abortions, abortion rate, and abortion ratio decreased 22% (from 786,621), 24% (from 14.9 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years), and 16% (from 224 abortions per 1,000 live births), respectively. In 2018, women in their 20s accounted for more than half of abortions (57.7%). In 2018 and during 2009-2018, women aged 20-24 and 25-29 years accounted for the highest percentages of abortions; in 2018, they accounted for 28.3% and 29.4% of abortions, respectively, and had the highest abortion rates (19.1 and 18.5 per 1,000 women aged 20-24 and 25-29 years, respectively). By contrast, adolescents aged <15 years and women aged ≥40 years accounted for the lowest percentages of abortions (0.2% and 3.6%, respectively) and had the lowest abortion rates (0.4 and 2.6 per 1,000 women aged <15 and ≥40 years, respectively). However, abortion ratios in 2018 and throughout 2009-2018 were highest among adolescents (aged ≤19 years) and lowest among women aged 25-39 years. Abortion rates decreased from 2009 to 2018 for all women, regardless of age. The decrease in abortion rate was highest among adolescents compared with women in any other age group. From 2009 to 2013, the abortion rates decreased for all age groups and from 2014 to 2018, the abortion rates decreased for all age groups, except for women aged 30-34 years and those aged ≥40 years. In addition, from 2017 to 2018, abortion rates did not change or decreased among women aged ≤24 and ≥40 years; however, the abortion rate increased among women aged 25-39 years. Abortion ratios also decreased from 2009 to 2018 among all women, except adolescents aged <15 years. The decrease in abortion ratio was highest among women aged ≥40 years compared with women in any other age group. The abortion ratio decreased for all age groups from 2009 to 2013; however, from 2014 to 2018, abortion ratios only decreased for women aged ≥35 years. From 2017 to 2018, abortion ratios increased for all age groups, except women aged ≥40 years. In 2018, approximately three fourths (77.7%) of abortions were performed at ≤9 weeks' gestation, and nearly all (92.2%) were performed at ≤13 weeks' gestation. In 2018, and during 2009-2018, the percentage of abortions performed at >13 weeks' gestation remained consistently low (≤9.0%). In 2018, the highest proportion of abortions were performed by surgical abortion at ≤13 weeks' gestation (52.1%), followed by early medical abortion at ≤9 weeks' gestation (38.6%), surgical abortion at >13 weeks' gestation (7.8%), and medical abortion at >9 weeks' gestation (1.4%); all other methods were uncommon (<0.1%). Among those that were eligible (≤9 weeks' gestation), 50.0% of abortions were early medical abortions. In 2017, the most recent year for which PMSS data were reviewed for pregnancy-related deaths, two women were identified to have died as a result of complications from legal induced abortion. INTERPRETATION: Among the 48 areas that reported data continuously during 2009-2018, decreases were observed during 2009-2017 in the total number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions, and these decreases resulted in historic lows for this period for all three measures. These decreases were followed by 1%-2% increases across all measures from 2017 to 2018. PUBLIC HEALTH ACTION: The data in this report can help program planners and policymakers identify groups of women with the highest rates of abortion. Unintended pregnancy is a major contributor to induced abortion. Increasing access to and use of effective contraception can reduce unintended pregnancies and further reduce the number of abortions performed in the United States.