Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
13.6K
US trends in abortion and preterm birth
Elena Rita Magro Malosso1, Gabriele Saccone2, Biagio Simonetti3
1a Department of Health Science, Division of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology , Careggi Hospital University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
Summary
Changes in abortion methods correlate with preterm birth rates. Medical abortion is linked to lower preterm birth rates, while surgical abortion is linked to higher rates, suggesting a potential impact on public health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Prior surgical abortion identified as a risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth (PTB).
- No significant correlation found between medical abortion and PTB in prior analyses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the impact of evolving US abortion rates and practices on the national PTB rate.
- Analyze trends in abortion types and their correlation with PTB incidence.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiologic analysis of US legal abortion and PTB data (2003-2012).
- Utilized National Vital Statistics Reports and CDC Abortion Surveillance data.
- Correlated PTB rates with surgical and medical abortion rates using chi-squared and Pearson correlation tests.
Main Results:
- PTB rate significantly declined from 12.3% (2003) to 11.5% (2012).
- Surgical abortion rate decreased (88.9% to 78.0%), while medical abortion rate increased (7.9% to 21.9%).
- PTB rate positively correlated with surgical abortion rate (r=0.712) and negatively with medical abortion rate (r=-0.731).
Conclusions:
- Shifts in abortion practices may be associated with the observed decrease in US PTB incidence.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific effects of surgical versus medical abortion on PTB.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
3.6K
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
3.6K
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
6.3K
The issues and trends in healthcare delivery are constantly changing. The COVID-19 pandemic is one recent issue that wreaked havoc on healthcare systems, causing a shortage of healthcare workers, high demand for medicines and supplies, and increased medical expenditure due to a lack of insurance. Other issues include rising healthcare costs and care fragmentation.
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
6.3K
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
7.2K
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
7.2K
01:07Teratogenicity
4.4K
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
4.4K
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
2.1K
In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
2.1K
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
5.5K
Current trends in nursing include:
5.5K