[Induced abortion because of fetal abnormality in Norway, 1996-7]

The objective of this study was to estimate the national and regional rates of induced abortions after the 12th gestational week attributed to fetal maldevelopment in Norway during 1996 and 1997.

In 1998, the National Board of Health requested from all hospitals copies of relevant documents in the medical records of women who had applied for induced abortion after 12th gestational week.

There were 303 women in 1996 and 1997 who applied for induced abortion because of diagnosed fetal maldevelopment. For all of these women the application was accepted. One woman did not have an abortion. The national rate of induced abortion attributed to fetal maldevelopment was 2.5 per 1000 births. There were regional differences in the rate of abortion. In 53% of all applications for induced abortion the fetal diagnosis was not reported. Among the reported diagnoses, 28% were chromosomal abnormalities.

There is a need for better knowledge of factors influencing the number of induced abortions attributed to fetal malformations. We also need a better understanding of the impact of such abortions on the observed perinatal mortality and occurrence of birth defects.