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Edvardsson K, Black KI, Bateson D, Norman WV, Shankar M, Hooker L, Li X, Taft AJ. The prevalence of and factors associated with prior induced abortion among women who gave birth in Victoria, 2010-2019. Med J Aust 2024; 220:138-144. [PMID: 38305505 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of a history of induced abortion among women who gave birth in Victoria during 2010-2019; to assess the association of socio-demographic factors with a history of induced abortion. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study; analysis of cross-sectional perinatal data in the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection (VPDC). SETTING, PARTICIPANTS All women who gave birth (live or stillborn) in Victoria, 1 January 2010 - 31 December 2019. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported induced abortions prior to the index birth; outcome of the most recent pregnancy preceding the index pregnancy. RESULTS Of the 766 488 women who gave birth during 2010-2019, 93 251 reported induced abortions (12.2%), including 36 938 of 338 547 nulliparous women (10.9%). Women living in inner regional (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-0.96) or outer regional/remote/very remote areas (aOR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.83-0.89) were less likely than women in major cities to report induced abortions. The likelihood increased steadily with age at the index birth and with parity, and was also higher for women without partners at the index birth (aOR, 2.20; 95% CI, 2.16-2.25) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (aOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.25-1.40). The likelihood was lower for women born in most areas outside Australia than for those born in Australia. The likelihood of a history of induced abortion declined across the study period overall (2019 v 2010: 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.96) and for women in major cities (0.88; 95% CI, 0.84-0.91); rises in inner regional and outer regional/remote/very remote areas were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Access to abortion care in Victoria improved during 2010-2019, but the complex interplay between contraceptive use, unintended pregnancy, and induced abortion requires further exploration by remoteness of residence. Robust information about numbers of unintended pregnancies and access to reproductive health services are needed to guide national sexual and reproductive health policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Edvardsson
- Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC
| | | | | | - Wendy V Norman
- The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mridula Shankar
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Leesa Hooker
- Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC
- La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC
| | - Xia Li
- La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC
| | - Angela J Taft
- Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC
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Malek M, Homer CS, McDonald C, Hannon CM, Moore P, Wilson AN. Abortion care at 20 weeks and over in Victoria: a thematic analysis of healthcare providers' experiences. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:112. [PMID: 38321392 PMCID: PMC10845525 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06299-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In many countries, abortions at 20 weeks and over for indications other than fetal or maternal medicine are difficult to access due to legal restrictions and limited availability of services. The Abortion and Contraception Service at the Royal Women's Hospital in Victoria, Australia is the only service in the state that provides this service. The views and experiences of these abortion providers can give insight into the experiences of staff and women and the abortion system accessibility. The aim of this study was to examine health providers' perceptions and experiences of providing abortion care at 20 weeks and over for indications other than fetal or maternal medicine, as well as enablers and barriers to this care and how quality of care could be improved in one hospital in Victoria, Australia. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted at the Abortion and Contraception Service at the Royal Women's Hospital. Participants were recruited by convenience and purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted one-on-one with participants either online or in-person. A reflexive thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS In total, 17 healthcare providers from medicine, nursing, midwifery, social work and Aboriginal clinical health backgrounds participated in the study. Ultimately, three themes were identified: 'Being committed to quality care: taking a holistic approach', 'Surmounting challenges: being an abortion provider is difficult', and 'Meeting external roadblocks: deficiencies in the wider healthcare system'. Participants felt well-supported by their team to provide person-centred and holistic care, while facing the emotional and ethical challenges of their role. The limited abortion workforce capacity in the wider healthcare system was perceived to compromise equitable access to care. CONCLUSIONS Providers of abortion at 20 weeks and over for non-medicalised indications encounter systemic enablers and barriers to delivering care at personal, service delivery and healthcare levels. There is an urgent need for supportive policies and frameworks to strengthen and support the abortion provider workforce and expand provision of affordable, acceptable and accessible abortions at 20 weeks and over in Victoria and in Australia more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Malek
- Monash University, Wellington Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | | | - Clare McDonald
- Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Catherine M Hannon
- Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Paddy Moore
- Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Alyce N Wilson
- Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- Royal Women's Hospital, 20 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
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Spencer CN, Khalil M, Herbert M, Aravkin AY, Arrieta A, Baeza MJ, Bustreo F, Cagney J, Calderon-Anyosa RJC, Carr S, Chandan JK, Coll CVN, de Andrade FMD, de Andrade GN, Debure AN, Flor LS, Hammond B, Hay SI, Knaul FN, Lim RQH, McLaughlin SA, Minhas S, Mohr JK, Mullany EC, Murray CJL, O'Connell EM, Patwardhan V, Reinach S, Scott D, Sorenson RJD, Stein C, Stöckl H, Twalibu A, Vasconcelos N, Zheng P, Metheny N, Chandan JS, Gakidou E. Health effects associated with exposure to intimate partner violence against women and childhood sexual abuse: a burden of proof study. Nat Med 2023; 29:3243-3258. [PMID: 38081957 PMCID: PMC10719101 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02629-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The health impacts of intimate partner violence against women and childhood sexual abuse are not fully understood. Here we conducted a systematic review by comprehensively searching seven electronic databases for literature on intimate partner violence-associated and childhood sexual abuse-associated health effects. Following the burden of proof methodology, we evaluated the evidence strength linking intimate partner violence and/or childhood sexual abuse to health outcomes supported by at least three studies. Results indicated a moderate association of intimate partner violence with major depressive disorder and with maternal abortion and miscarriage (63% and 35% increased risk, respectively). HIV/AIDS, anxiety disorders and self-harm exhibited weak associations with intimate partner violence. Fifteen outcomes were evaluated for their relationship to childhood sexual abuse, which was shown to be moderately associated with alcohol use disorders and with self-harm (45% and 35% increased risk, respectively). Associations between childhood sexual abuse and 11 additional health outcomes, such as asthma and type 2 diabetes mellitus, were found to be weak. Although our understanding remains limited by data scarcity, these health impacts are larger in magnitude and more extensive than previously reported. Renewed efforts on violence prevention and evidence-based approaches that promote healing and ensure access to care are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory N Spencer
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mariam Khalil
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Molly Herbert
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aleksandr Y Aravkin
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alejandra Arrieta
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - María Jose Baeza
- School of Medicine, The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Flavia Bustreo
- Fondation Botnar, Basel, Switzerland
- Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jack Cagney
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Sinclair Carr
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jaidev Kaur Chandan
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Carolina V N Coll
- Department of Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
- Human Development and Violence Research Center, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil
| | | | | | - Alexandra N Debure
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Luisa S Flor
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ben Hammond
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Simon I Hay
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Felicia N Knaul
- Institute for the Advanced Study of the Americas, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Rachel Q H Lim
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Susan A McLaughlin
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sonica Minhas
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jasleen K Mohr
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Erin C Mullany
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christopher J L Murray
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Erin M O'Connell
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vedavati Patwardhan
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Center on Gender Equity and Health, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Dalton Scott
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Reed J D Sorenson
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Caroline Stein
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heidi Stöckl
- Institute of Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE), Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Aisha Twalibu
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Peng Zheng
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nicholas Metheny
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Joht Singh Chandan
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Emmanuela Gakidou
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Brown SJ, Conway LJ, FitzPatrick KM, Hegarty K, Mensah FK, Papadopoullos S, Woolhouse H, Giallo R, Gartland D. Physical and mental health of women exposed to intimate partner violence in the 10 years after having their first child: an Australian prospective cohort study of first-time mothers. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e040891. [PMID: 33371030 PMCID: PMC7754634 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate mental and physical health of mothers exposed to recent and early postpartum intimate partner violence (IPV) in the 10 years after having their first child. DESIGN Prospective pregnancy cohort study. SETTING Women were recruited at six metropolitan public maternity hospitals in Melbourne, Australia and followed up at 1, 4 and 10 years post partum. STUDY MEASURES Exposure to physical and/or emotional IPV was measured using the Composite Abuse Scale at 1, 4 and 10 years. At 10-year follow-up, mothers reported on physical and mental health, and functional health status. PARTICIPANTS 1507 first-time mothers enrolled at mean of 15 weeks' gestation. RESULTS One in three women experienced IPV during the 10 years after having their first child. Women experiencing recent IPV (19.1%) reported worse physical and mental health than women not reporting IPV. Compared with women not reporting IPV, women experiencing recent IPV had higher odds of poor functional health status (Adj OR=4.5, 95% CI 3.2 to 6.3), back pain (Adj OR=2.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.9), incontinence (Adj OR=1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.6), depressive symptoms (Adj OR=4.9, 95% CI 3.2 to 7.5), anxiety (Adj OR=5.1, 95% CI 3.0 to 8.6) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (Adj OR=7.2, 95% CI 4.6 to 11.1) at 10 years. Women with past IPV at 1 and/or 4 years (15.7% of the cohort) also had higher odds of physical and mental health problems. There was evidence of a gradient in health outcomes by recency of exposure to IPV. CONCLUSIONS Both recent and past exposure to IPV are associated with poor maternal physical and mental health 10 years after a first birth. Health services and advocacy organisations providing support to women need to be aware of the consistent relationship between IPV and a range of physical and mental health conditions, which may persist even after IPV appears to have ceased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie J Brown
- Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura J Conway
- Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kelly M FitzPatrick
- Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kelsey Hegarty
- Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fiona K Mensah
- Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sandra Papadopoullos
- Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hannah Woolhouse
- Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca Giallo
- Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Deirdre Gartland
- Intergenerational Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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5
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Huneeus A, Capella D, Cabieses B, Cavada G. Induced Abortion According to Socioeconomic Status in Chile. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2020; 33:415-420.e1. [PMID: 32224246 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE The Chilean legislation forbids induced abortion, so little is known of the young women who have abortions and what determinants are associated with this practice. In this study we examined the association between adolescents and young women who have had induced abortions and socioeconomic status and compared them with counterparts who reported not having a history of abortion. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Drawing on the 2015 Chilean National Youth Survey, a population-based sample of general community youth aged 15-29 years, we conducted a study on 2439 sexually active females. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between participants who had induced abortions and participants that had not according to socioeconomic status (low, middle, high), while controlling for demographic, sexual behavior, and cultural covariates. RESULTS 5.15% (n = 129) of participants declared having induced an abortion in the past. Participants with high socioeconomic status had 4.89 (95% confidence interval, 1.44-16.51) higher odds of induced abortion compared with participants with low socioeconomic status. Those with middle socioeconomic status had 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.24) higher odds of induced abortion compared with those with low socioeconomic status. Urban or rural residence, indigenous identification, age of sexual debut, contraceptive use at the time of sexual debut, adolescent pregnancy, and religious and political identification did not correlate with induced abortion rates. CONCLUSION In Chile, where induced abortion is legally restricted, a social gradient was found in the chance of having had an induced abortion according to socioeconomic status; adolescent and young women with higher socioeconomic advantage reported more induced abortions compared with those with low socioeconomic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Huneeus
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Capella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Campus, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Báltica Cabieses
- Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina (ICIM), Facultad de Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gabriel Cavada
- Department of Statistics, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Santiago, Chile
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