Pregnancy continuation following patient education of primary abortion applicants
Wolf, B.
Zentralblatt für Gynakologie 113(1): 13-19
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-4197 PMID: 2038904 Document Number: 387472
During 1972-87 a total of 417 patients admitted for abortion were released for intensive counseling to think over their decision to seek abortion. A sample of 176 women were interviewed concerning social and medical factors and their main motives. In 1987 after counseling 11.4% chose to carry their pregnancy to term compared with 11.8% in 1977 and an average of 5%. The proportion of those aged 14-17 among to-term-carriers was 19.2% and as high as 62.3% up to age 24. Girls aged 17 who had an abortion made up an average of 6.7%. Of the 47.1% of the patients who were single, 24.5% opted for abortion. 43.1% of the married women carried out the pregnancy. 23.3% of those carrying to term had not finished their studies, only 7.9% had trade school or college education, and 3.4% were unemployed. Reasons for abortion were completed family size, housing problems, lack of stable relationship and incomplete schooling. The frequency of cesarean section was 1.8% compared with 5.7% for a representative control sample of pregnant women in 1987. Vaginal deliveries were 1.2% vs. 4.5% of controls. There were 3 losses of fetuses. 91% of the children were born after 37 weeks of pregnancy compared with 85.7% of controls. 7.4% of the children were underweight vs. 6.8% of controls. Total morbidity was 9.7% vs. 22.2% of controls. Psychosocial help was accorded by house visits to 52.1% of to-term carriers vs. 27.2% of controls. Those carrying to term increased from 2.3% in 1972 to 11.4% in 1987.