Aborto Induzido : fatores de risco e preditores. Pelotas, RS

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

1998

RESUMO

The objective of this study was to estimate thc frequency of induced abortion, as well as to idcntify major risk factors and predictors for those health outcome. In 1995 a cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with a representative sample of 3002 women between 15 and 49 years of age. These women were residents of the urban area of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Women were randomly assigned to respond to questions on induced abortion with one of two methods: the Ballot-box Method or the Indirect Questioning Method. Socioeconomic, demographic and rcproductive data were obtained through a general precodified questionnaire. The women from this sample had reasonable levels of schooling and income compared with Brazilian women as a whole. Among the women assigned to the Ballot-box Method, 7.2% responded that they had induced at least one abortion, where as 3.8% of those women assigned to the Indirect Questioning Method reported having induced at least one abortion. Women between 45 and 49 years of age had a mean number of 2.4 children, 26% were sterilized and 12% had had an induced abortion as found with the Ballotbox Method. Unwanted pregnancies were more common in the youngest (;l nd oldest women (from 15 to 19 years and 45 to 49 years of age). In addition, 41 % of the adolescents had experienced an unwanted pregnancy. Induced abortion was strongly associated with fetalloss. Using this information a priori, it was possible to identify the principal risk factors and predictors for induced abortion. Amopg ad.Qlescents, the principal predictors were: low socioeconomic leveI, low schooling and elevated school drop-out, and knowledge of a high number of contraceptive methods. For women between 20 and 29 years of age, only marital status was found to be associated: women who were separated or divorced reported more induced abortion. Among women between the ages of 30 and 39, risk factors and predictors were: to be living with a partner or to have a partner, to have had previous problems with contraceptive methods, to know about a greater humber of contraceptive methods and to be sterilized. For women above 40 years or age, only knowledge of a higher number of contraceptive methods was associated with induced abortion. In ali age groups there was a higher proportion oí reported fetal loss for women who had aborted when comparing with those that had noto An association between religion and abortion was also observed. This study shows the importance of using a combination af methods for studying themes that are sensitive and difficult ta approach, as is the case of induced abortion

ASSUNTO(S)

epidemiologia - aborto

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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