Risk factors: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
:Interpretation: Among other factors, a history of physical or sexual abuse was associated with repeat induced abortion. Presentation for repeat abortion may be an important indication to screen for a current or past history of relationship violence and sexual abuse. | :Interpretation: Among other factors, a history of physical or sexual abuse was associated with repeat induced abortion. Presentation for repeat abortion may be an important indication to screen for a current or past history of relationship violence and sexual abuse. | ||
==Screening for Coercion== | |||
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that their members [http://www.philly.com/philly/health/topics/HealthDay660940_20120124_Ob-Gyns_Should_Screen_for_Domestic_Abuse__Experts.html screen all patients for intimate partner violence], including during prenatal visits. | |||
"Women of all ages experience intimate partner violence, but it is most prevalent among reproductive-age women," Dr. Maureen Phipps, chair of the college's Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women, said in the news release. "We have a prime opportunity to identify and help women who are being abused by incorporating this screening into our routine office visits with each and every patient." | |||
Clearly, this recommendation should extend to abortion providers as there is ample evidence that pregnant women are more likely to face coercion to have an unwanted abortion which can escalate to acts of violence. | |||
Revision as of 13:16, 7 August 2012
See Risk_Factors_Identified_by_Pro-Choice_Sources
Four Types of Women
According to Philip Ney, from a clinical perspective there are four groups of women having abortion:
- Tough and committed. Those who insist that abortion is a woman’s right.
- Vulnerable. Those who are basically unstable who are pushed into a definable mental illness by the trauma of abortion.
- Sensitive. Those who are reasonably mentally healthy but because of their sensitivities, they are deeply hurt by having an abortion and develop psychiatric symptoms which a researcher defines as an illness.
- Resilient. Those who choose abortion as the least worst alternative and don’t appear to be affected for years until poor health or stressful circumstance undermine their ego defenses.
Risk Factors for Multiple Abortions
Characteristics of women undergoing repeat induced abortion.] Fisher WA, Singh SS, Shuper PA, Carey M, Otchet F, MacLean-Brine D, et al. CMAJ 2005;172(5):637-41
- Background: Although repeat induced abortion is common, data concerning characteristics of women undergoing this procedure are lacking. We conducted this study to identify the characteristics, including history of physical abuse by a male partner and history of sexual abuse, of women who present for repeat induced abortion.
- Methods: We surveyed a consecutive series of women presenting for initial or repeat pregnancy termination to a regional provider of abortion services for a wide geographic area in southwestern Ontario between August 1998 and May 1999. Self-reported demographic characteristics, attitudes and practices regarding contraception, history of relationship violence, history of sexual abuse or coercion, and related variables were assessed as potential correlates of repeat induced abortion. We used χ2 tests for linear trend to examine characteristics of women undergoing a first, second, or third or subsequent abortion. We analyzed significant correlates of repeat abortion using stepwise multivariate multinomial logistic regression to identify factors uniquely associated with repeat abortion.
- Results: Of the 1221 women approached, 1145 (93.8%) consented to participate. Data regarding first versus repeat abortion were available for 1127 women. A total of 68.2%, 23.1% and 8.7% of the women were seeking a first, second, or third or subsequent abortion respectively. Adjusted odds ratios for undergoing repeat versus a first abortion increased significantly with increased age (second abortion: 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.09; third or subsequent abortion: 1.11, 95% CI 1.07–1.15), oral contraceptive use at the time of conception (second abortion: 2.17, 95% CI 1.52–3.09; third or subsequent abortion: 2.60, 95% CI 1.51–4.46), history of physical abuse by a male partner (second abortion: 2.04, 95% CI 1.39–3.01; third or subsequent abortion: 2.78, 95% CI 1.62–4.79), history of sexual abuse or violence (second abortion: 1.58, 95% CI 1.11–2.25; third or subsequent abortion: 2.53, 95% CI 1.50–4.28), history of sexually transmitted disease (second abortion: 1.50, 95% CI 0.98–2.29; third or subsequent abortion: 2.26, 95% CI 1.28–4.02) and being born outside Canada (second abortion: 1.83, 95% CI 1.19–2.79; third or subsequent abortion: 1.75, 95% CI 0.90–3.41).
- Interpretation: Among other factors, a history of physical or sexual abuse was associated with repeat induced abortion. Presentation for repeat abortion may be an important indication to screen for a current or past history of relationship violence and sexual abuse.
Screening for Coercion
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that their members screen all patients for intimate partner violence, including during prenatal visits.
"Women of all ages experience intimate partner violence, but it is most prevalent among reproductive-age women," Dr. Maureen Phipps, chair of the college's Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women, said in the news release. "We have a prime opportunity to identify and help women who are being abused by incorporating this screening into our routine office visits with each and every patient."
Clearly, this recommendation should extend to abortion providers as there is ample evidence that pregnant women are more likely to face coercion to have an unwanted abortion which can escalate to acts of violence.