[Study on the correlation between induced abortion and reproductive tract infections]

To explore the correlation between induced abortion and reproductive tract infections (RTIs).

On the basis of keeping the representation of cities under study, 53 652 fertile women aged 15 - 49 were surveyed by using a stratified-cluster-random sampling. Investigation and gynecological examination were conducted by two steps - firstly converging at the clinics, and then visiting those households for someone who did not show up at the clinics.

Among all the 32.0% (n=16 800) women ever having experienced the history of induced abortion, 21.1% (n = 11 090) of them had one, 7.6% (n=3976) women had two, and 4.1% (n=1734) women had at least three events. 59.0% (n=30 959) women among our studied samples had ever had RTI, with 30.9% (n=16 215) of them had only one 20.0% (n=10 494) women had two and 8.1% (n=4250) had three or more RTIs. Data from χ(2) text and ordinal regression analysis revealed that the rural married women who underwent more induced abortions were more likely to suffer from RTIs, especially cervical infection and PID.

Our study showed that the rates of induced abortion and reproductive tract infections among married women in Anhui province were both high. Women who underwent induced abortions had a higher prevalence rate of reproductive tract infections.