Abortion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Abortion, including details on abortion pill, procedure, facts, information.

Risk factors for repeat elective abortion.

Prager SW, Steinauer JE, Foster DG, Darney PD, Drey EA

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and the Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA. pragers@u.washington.edu

OBJECTIVE: Repeat abortions account for 48% of all induced abortions in the United States. This study aims to identify correlates of repeat abortion in a US clinic. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study investigates a consecutive sample of 398 women who received elective abortion in an urban hospital. All participants answered demographic, reproductive, and other questions. RESULTS: Older women were more likely to have had a previous abortion than teenagers (odds ratio for women 20-29 years old, 2.9 [95% CI, 1.5-5.7]; odds ratio for women >or=30 years old, 6.7 [95% CI, 2.8-16.0]). Alcohol/drug abuse (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.3-5.3) also correlated with increased odds of previous abortion. Depo medroxyprogesterone acetate use approached a significant association (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.0-10.5). CONCLUSION: The associations between both alcohol/drug abuse and depo medroxyprogesterone acetate use and repeat abortion are new findings. Future studies are needed to identify modifiable risk factors for repeat abortion and to identify populations in which interventions, such as long-term contraception, may lower the risk.

Published 6 December 2007 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 197(6): 575.e1-6.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Abortion Research Today. All Rights Reserved.