Risk of death from early abortion less than pregnancy and childbirth The risk of maternal death if pregnancy is allowed to go to term is far greater than that associated with early abortion (first 12 weeks). And the risk to life from abortion in the second trimester is no greater than that of pregnancy and childbirth. Number of Deaths Attributed to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium; 8 Mortality Ratio 1. International Classification of Diseases, 1955 Revision, Intermediate Number of Legal Abortions and of Associated or Attributed Deaths, and Mortality *Includes 25 deaths attributed to the abortion = 128 per 100,000. (Source: Induced Abortion: A Factbook,,G. Tietze, M.D., The Population Council 9 Mortality Rates Analysis of information from countries with a long-term history of abortion shows a marked decline in mortality over time. Differences in abortionrelated mortality reflect, to a large extent, the different proportions of late abortions in these countries. In contrast, return to more restrictive policies in Romania in 1966 was Deaths Attributed to Abortion per 100,000 Women, 15-44 Czecho England Note: Rates in ( ) exclude deaths attributed to legal abortion. Legal procedures safer than Illegal: New York City: In the two years preceding liberalization of the New York law, 45 deaths in the state were recorded as the result of illegal abortions. During the two years following the change in the law, 21 deaths were recorded as the result of legal abortions, 14 of which involved cases of late abortions, when the risks of complication and death are many times higher than in early abortions (12 weeks or less). The suction method used in early cases resulted in no California: Prior to institution of legal abortion, the major single This fell to 14 in 1968, (first full year after the legal 10 Fewer women are dying during pregnancy and childbirth - Elimination of dangerous illegal abortion removed the main single cause of maternal deaths. And women for whom childbirth would be a high risk -- the very young, women who've had many previous pregnancies or are nearing menopause, and women with medical handicaps now have an alternative. Of course, availability of abortion alone doesn't account for declines in the National Maternal Mortality Rates. Effective use of contraception is another factor. In fact, the New York evidence suggests that contraceptive practice improved markedly, perhaps related to the contraceptive counseling provided by facilities performing abortions. New York City: In the two years following reform of the New York law, deaths dropped to all-time low. (New York City Department of Health) 1969 5.3 maternal deaths per 10,000 births (prior to legal abortion) 1970 4.6 maternal deaths per 10,000 births (abortion legal at Mid-year) 1971 2.9 maternal deaths per IC,000 births 1972 2.6 maternal deaths per 10,000 births California: 1967 2.9 per 10,000 births (final year prior to legal abortion) 1971 1.6 per 10,000 births (first time in the state's history the death rate fell below 2 per 10,000) Complication rates The risk of complication differs between abortion in the first and second trimester, with late abortion being about three to four times more risky than early abortion. Drop in complication rates of early abortion Rates of total and major complications following abortion at 12 weeks or less dropped approximately one-half in the year a group of hospitals participated in the JPSA study, reflecting a decline in the complication rates for abortion by suction (accounting for the greatest proportion of procedures) and attributable to a rapid increase in experience and skill. (Source: Studies in Family Planning 3, no. 6 (June) 97-122) Striking decline in numbers of women hospitalized due to "botched" abortions Incomplete abortions, whether spontaneous or induced, can cause serious complications. In the past, municipal hospitals admitted thousands of women annually with complications resulting from incomplete abortions begun outside the hospital. After liberalization of abortion laws the In the same period the hospital experienced a noticeable decline in so-called spontaneous abortions, suggesting that prior to the legal abortion act, many may not actually have been spontaneous. Prior to the liberalized law in New York there were always serious cases Effect of abortion on subsequent pregnancies A study was begun in mid-1970 of live births in selected hospitals in Hungary. Data for the first six months indicate that the proportion of infants born prematurely and of those dying within the first week tended to increase as the number of previous pregnancies increased, regardless of whether abortion had been involved or not; both also tended to increase with the number of previous abortions regardless of the number of previous pregnancies. It is hoped that a report covering the study through 1971 will provide information on effects of abortion separated from such other factors as maternal age, socio-economic status, urban-rural residence and smoking habits during pregnancy which may also be involved. (Source: Hungary: Central Statistical Office. A Vetélések Adatai 1971. Budapest) 40-185 -74 - 25 Number of Infant Deaths is Down A high percentage of infant deaths results from prematurity, and the incidence It seems reasonable that increases as socio-economic status decreases. the availability of abortion was a factor in the decline of newborn infant deaths in New York City from 16.3 in 1970 to 14.9 in 1971. The reduction of low birthweight infants and out-of-wedlock births, long associated with much higher mortality rates, no doubt contributed to the overall decline in infant death rates. In a study of six Brooklyn hospitals serving a broad spectrum of ward and private patients, the proportion of all births made up of immature infants (500 to 100 gm.) fell 36 percent in the year after the change in law. Analysis showed this was a sharp fall and not a declining trend. ("Changes in Pregnancy Outcome after Liberalization of the New York State Abortion Law" Population Council) "Live born" fetuses In Much notoriety surrounded early instances but the problem has dwindled. New York 47 "live born" fetuses were recorded out of 215,000 abortions the first year, and the number declined to 26 the second year ... roughly one in every 5500 abortions. All but two expired shortly after expulsion in spite of all intensive efforts to maintain life. The two surviving were beyond 24 weeks gestation. Both terminations were for therapeutic reasons. One infant has a serious congenital cardiac defect. The increasing trend toward earlier abortion, and greater accuracy in estimating stages of gestation, should reduce the incidence even further. (Source: The Abortion Experience, Osofsky, #3) Acceptance of contraception following abortion Six out of every seven women who received early abortions in a one-year pilot contraception counseling program funded by the New York State Department of Health chose a "personally suitable and effective" method of birth control. Over three-quarters selected a method immediately following the abortion, the remainder at a follow-up visit for post-abortion checkup. (Source: Planned Parenthood of New York City, March 1973) 12 |