Number of induced abortions, rates of induced abortions per 1,000 females of same age group, proportions of induced abortions across age groups, and ratios of induced abortions per 100 live births, by age group of patient, 1987 to 2000.

The Abortion update contains information on notifications, to the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, of terminations of pregnancy under the Abortion Act 1967. The release includes numbers and rates for Scotland, NHS Boards and Local Council Areas.

Source agency: ISD Scotland (part of NHS National Services Scotland)

Designation: National Statistics

Language: English

Alternative title: Abortions Statistics

In order to assess the possible effects of lifestyle on fertility and pregnancy outcome, the PALS (Pregnancy and Lifestyle study) collected extensive data on a broad range of parameters termed 'lifestyle' from couples who were planning a natural (non-assisted) pregnancy in the coming months. There was no intervention. Participants were recruited over a six year period from 1988 to 1993 in response to extensive promotion in the local media. Male and female partners were interviewed independently and all interviews were conducted prospectively before the couple attempted to conceive. The result of each month of 'trying' was recorded and pregnancies were confirmed by urine tests and by ultrasound. The length of gestation of each pregnancy was recorded and pregnancies at term were classified with respect to weight. Multiple pregnancies and/or babies with congenital abnormalities have been excluded from the dataset. The data is stored as an xls file and each variable has a codename. For each of 582 couples there are 355 variables, the codes for which are described in a separate metadata file. The questionnaire based data includes information about households, occupation, chemical exposures at work and home, diet, smoking, alcohol use, hobbies, exercise and health. Recorded observations include monthly pregnancy tests and pregnancy outcomes.

The following tables summarize abortion-related services funded by Medi-Cal, by delivery system and demographic characteristics from calendar year (CY) 2014 to the most recent reportable CY. The number of abortion-related services are summarized by health care delivery system and county; health care delivery system and age group; health care delivery system and aid group; and age group and race/ethnicity. Expenditures are also summarized for abortion-related services claims submitted to the fee-for-service (FFS) delivery system. Federal funding is generally not available for abortion-related services; therefore, abortion-related services are financed with state funds only.

ObjectiveTo determine which characteristics and circumstances were associated with very early and second-trimester abortion.MethodsPaper and pencil surveys were collected from a national sample of 8,380 non-hospital U.S. abortion patients in 2014 and 2015. We used self-reported LMP to calculate weeks gestation; when LMP was not provided we used self-reported weeks pregnant. We constructed two dependent variables: obtaining a very early abortion, defined as six weeks gestation or earlier, and obtaining second-trimester abortion, defined as occurring at 13 weeks gestation or later. We examined associations between the two measures of gestation and a range of characteristics and circumstances, including type of abortion waiting period in the patients’ state of residence.ResultsAmong first-trimester abortion patients, characteristics that decreased the likelihood of obtaining a very early abortion include being under the age of 20, relying on financial assistance to pay for the procedure, recent exposure to two or more disruptive events and living in a state that requires in-person counseling 24–72 hours prior to the procedure. Having a college degree and early recognition of pregnancy increased the likelihood of obtaining a very early abortion. Characteristics that increased the likelihood of obtaining a second-trimester abortion include being Black, having less than a high school degree, relying on financial assistance to pay for the procedure, living 25 or more miles from the facility and late recognition of pregnancy.ConclusionsWhile the availability of financial assistance may allow women to obtain abortions they would otherwise be unable to have, it may also result in delays in accessing care. If poor women had health insurance that covered abortion services, these delays could be alleviated. Since the study period, four additional states have started requiring that women obtain in-person counseling prior to obtaining an abortion, and the increase in these laws could slow down the trend in very early abortion.

Number of teen pregnancies and rates per 1,000 females, by pregnancy outcome (live births, induced abortions, or fetal loss), by age groups 15 to 17 years and 18 to 19 years, 1998 to 2000.

Introduction: Though embryonic chromosome abnormalities have been reported to be the most common cause of missed abortions, previous studies have mainly focused on embryonic chromosome abnormalities of missed abortions, with very few studies reporting that of non-missed abortion. Without chromosome studies of normal abortion samples, it is impossible to determine the risk factors of embryo chromosome abnormalities and missed abortion. This study aimed to investigate the maternal and embryonic chromosome characteristics of missed and non-missed abortion, to clarify the questions that how many missed abortions are caused by embryonic chromosomal abnormalities and what are their risk factors.Material and methods: This study was conducted on 131 women with missed or non-missed abortion from the Longitudinal Missed Abortion Study (LoMAS). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between maternal covariates and embryonic chromosomal abnormalities and missed abortions. Data on the characteristics of women with abortions were collected.Results: The embryonic chromosome abnormality rate was only 3.9% in non-missed abortion embryos, while it was 64.8% in missed-abortion embryos. Assisted reproductive technology and prior missed abortions increased the risk of embryonic chromosome abnormalities by 1.637 (95% CI: 1.573, 4.346. p = 0.010) and 3.111 (95% CI: 1.809, 7.439. (p < 0.001) times, respectively. In addition, as the age increased by 1 year, the risk of embryonic chromosome abnormality increased by 14.4% (OR: 1.144, 95% CI: 1.030, 1.272. p = 0.012). Moreover, advanced age may lead to different distributions of chromosomal abnormality types.Conclusion: Nearly two-thirds of missed abortions are caused by embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. Moreover, advanced age, assisted reproductive technology, and prior missed abortions increase the risk of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities.

Introduction: Though embryonic chromosome abnormalities have been reported to be the most common cause of missed abortions, previous studies have mainly focused on embryonic chromosome abnormalities of missed abortions, with very few studies reporting that of non-missed abortion. Without chromosome studies of normal abortion samples, it is impossible to determine the risk factors of embryo chromosome abnormalities and missed abortion. This study aimed to investigate the maternal and embryonic chromosome characteristics of missed and non-missed abortion, to clarify the questions that how many missed abortions are caused by embryonic chromosomal abnormalities and what are their risk factors.Material and methods: This study was conducted on 131 women with missed or non-missed abortion from the Longitudinal Missed Abortion Study (LoMAS). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between maternal covariates and embryonic chromosomal abnormalities and missed abortions. Data on the characteristics of women with abortions were collected.Results: The embryonic chromosome abnormality rate was only 3.9% in non-missed abortion embryos, while it was 64.8% in missed-abortion embryos. Assisted reproductive technology and prior missed abortions increased the risk of embryonic chromosome abnormalities by 1.637 (95% CI: 1.573, 4.346. p = 0.010) and 3.111 (95% CI: 1.809, 7.439. (p < 0.001) times, respectively. In addition, as the age increased by 1 year, the risk of embryonic chromosome abnormality increased by 14.4% (OR: 1.144, 95% CI: 1.030, 1.272. p = 0.012). Moreover, advanced age may lead to different distributions of chromosomal abnormality types.Conclusion: Nearly two-thirds of missed abortions are caused by embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. Moreover, advanced age, assisted reproductive technology, and prior missed abortions increase the risk of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities.

Abstract Objectives: this study intends to estimate the rates, associated factors and trends of selfreported abortion rates in the northeast of Brazil. Methods: series of population-based surveys realized in Ceará, northeast of Brazil, one of the poorest states in the country. A sample of about 27,000 women of reproductive age was used. Abortion was assessed according to women´s information and rates were calculated using official population estimates. The trends and the association among socioeconomic and reproductive factors were studied using regressive models. Results: a trend for reduction in rates was identified. For induced abortion, the determinants were: not having a partner, condom in the last sexual intercourse, first child up to 25years old (AOR= 5.21; ACI: 2.9 – 9.34) and having less than 13years old at first sexual intercourse (AOR= 5.88; ACI: 3.29 – 10.51). For spontaneous abortion were: having studied less than 8 years, knowledge and use of morning-after pill (AOR= 26.44; ACI: 17.9 – 39.05) and not having any children (AOR= 3.43). Conclusions: rates may have been low due to self-reporting. Young age and knowledge about contraceptive methods were associated to both kinds of abortion, while education level along with spontaneous and marital status with induced. Programs to reduce abortion rates should focus on single younger women with low education.

The IPUMS Contextual Determinants of Health (CDOH) data series includes measures of disparities, policies, and counts, by state or county, for historically marginalized populations in the United States including Black, Asian, Hispanic/Latina/o/e/x, and LGBTQ+ persons, and women. The IPUMS CDOH data are made available through ICPSR/DSDR for merging with the National Couples' Health and Time Study (NCHAT), United States, 2020-2021 (ICPSR 38417) by approved restricted data researchers. All other researchers can access the IPUMS CDOH data via the IPUMS CDOH website. Unlike other IPUMS products, the CDOH data are organized into multiple categories related to Race and Ethnicity, Sexual and Gender Minority, Gender, and Politics. The CDOH measures were created from a wide variety of data sources (e.g., IPUMS NHGIS, the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Movement Advancement Project, and Myers Abortion Facility Database). Measures are currently available for states or counties from approximately 2015 to 2020. The Gender measures in this release include state-level abortion access, which reports the proportion of a state's females aged 15-44 who reside in counties with an abortion provider by year and month from 2009-2022. To work with the IPUMS CDOH data, researchers will need to first merge the NCHAT data to DS1 (MATCH ID and State FIPS Data). This merged file can then be linked to the IPUMS CDOH datafile (DS2) using the STATEFIPS variable.

This table contains 147 series, with data for years 1970 - 2000 (not all combinations necessarily have data for all years). This table contains data described by the following dimensions (Not all combinations are available): Geography, area of residence of patient (19 items: Total; area of residence of patient; Non-residents of Canada; Canada; area of residence of patient; Abortions reported by American states ...), Type of facility (3 items: Induced abortions; hospitals and clinics; Induced abortions; clinics; Induced abortions; hospitals ...), Characteristics (3 items: Number of induced abortions; Rate per 1;000 females aged 15 to 44;Ratio per 100 live births ...).

Number of induced abortions, by area of report (Canada, province or territory, and abortions reported by American states), by type of facility performing the abortion (hospital or clinic), 1970 to 2006.

ObjectivesTo assess the impact of specialist contraceptive support after abortion on effective contraceptive use at six months and subsequent abortions within two years.MethodsMulticentre randomised controlled trial among women undergoing induced abortion in three London boroughs. Allocation was through electronically concealed stratified randomisation by centre, blinding clinicians and participants to arm allocation until interventions. Control group received standard care, comprising advice to follow up with their general practitioner or contraceptive clinic as needed. Intervention group additionally received specialist contraceptive support via telephone or face-to-face consultation at 2–4 weeks and 3 months post-abortion. Primary outcome was rate of effective contraceptive use at six months post-abortion. Secondary outcomes were subsequent abortions within two years.Results569 women were recruited between October 2011 and February 2013, randomised to intervention (282) and control (287) groups; 290 (142 intervention, 148 control) were available for primary outcome analysis. Intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups in effective contraceptive use after abortion (62%, vs 54%, p = 0·172), long-acting contraceptive use (42% versus 32%, p = 0·084), and subsequent abortion (similar rates, at 1 year: 10%, p = 0·895, between 1–2 years: 6%, p = 0·944). Per-protocol analysis showed those who received the complete intervention package were significantly more likely to use effective contraception (67% versus 54%, p = 0·048), in particular long-acting contraception (49% versus 32%, p = 0·010) and showed a non-significant reduction in subsequent abortions within 2 years (at 1 year: 5% versus 10%, p = 0·098; and between 1–2 years: 3% versus 6%, p = 0·164, respectively).ConclusionsStructured specialist support post-abortion did not result in significant use of effective contraception at six months or reduction in subsequent abortions within two years. Participants engaging with the intervention showed positive effect on effective contraception at six months post-abortion. The potential benefit of such intervention may become evident through further studies with increased patient participation.

The 1997 the Kyrgyz Republic Demographic and Health Survey (KRDHS) is a nationally representative survey of 3,848 women age 15-49. Fieldwork was conducted from August to November 1997. The KRDHS was sponsored by the Ministry of Health (MOH), and was funded by the United States Agency for International Development. The Research Institute of Obstetrics and Pediatrics implemented the survey with technical assistance from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program. The purpose of the KRDHS was to provide data to the MOH on factors which determine the health status of women and children such as fertility, contraception, induced abortion, maternal care, infant mortality, nutritional status, and anemia. Some statistics presented in this report are currently available to the MOH from other sources. For example, the MOH collects and regularly publishes information on fertility, contraception, induced abortion and infant mortality. However, the survey presents information on these indices in a manner which is not currently available, i.e., by population subgroups such as those defined by age, marital duration, education, and ethnicity. Additionally, the survey provides statistics on some issues not previously available in the Kyrgyz Republic: for example, breastfeeding practices and anemia status of women and children. When considered together, existing MOH data and the KRDHS data provide a more complete picture of the health conditions in the Kyrgyz Republic than was previously available. A secondary objective of the survey was to enhance the capabilities of institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic to collect, process, and analyze population and health data. MAIN FINDINGS FERTILITY Fertility Rates. Survey results indicate a total fertility rate (TFR) for all of the Kyrgyz Republic of 3.4 children per woman. Fertility levels differ for different population groups. The TFR for women living in urban areas (2.3 children per woman) is substantially lower than for women living in rural areas (3.9). The TFR for Kyrgyz women (3.6 children per woman) is higher than for women of Russian ethnicity (1.5) but lower than Uzbek women (4.2). Among the regions of the Kyrgyz Republic, the TFR is lowest in Bishkek City (1.7 children per woman), and the highest in the East Region (4.3), and intermediate in the North and South Regions (3.1 and3.9, respectively). Time Trends. The KRDHS data show that fertility has declined in the Kyrgyz Republic in recent years. The decline in fertility from 5-9 to 0-4 years prior to the survey increases with age, from an 8 percent decline among 20-24 year olds to a 38 percent decline among 35-39 year olds. The declining trend in fertility can be seen by comparing the completed family size of women near the end of their childbearing years with the current TFR. Completed family size among women 40-49 is 4.6 children which is more than one child greater than the current TFR (3.4). Birth Intervals. Overall, 30 percent of births in the Kyrgyz Republic take place within 24 months of the previous birth. The median birth interval is 31.9 months. Age at Onset of Childbearing. The median age at which women in the Kyrgyz Republic begin childbearing has been holding steady over the past two decades at approximately 21.6 years. Most women have their first birth while in their early twenties, although about 20 percent of women give birth before age 20. Nearly half of married women in the Kyrgyz Republic (45 percent) do not want to have more children. Additional one-quarter of women (26 percent) want to delay their next birth by at least two years. These are the women who are potentially in need of some method of family planning. FAMILY PLANNING Ever Use. Among currently married women, 83 percent report having used a method of contraception at some time. The women most likely to have ever used a method of contraception are those age 30-44 (among both currently married and all women). Current Use. Overall, among currently married women, 60 percent report that they are currently using a contraceptive method. About half (49 percent) are using a modern method of contraception and another 11 percent are using a traditional method. The IUD is by far the most commonly used method; 38 percent of currently married women are using the IUD. Other modern methods of contraception account for only a small amount of use among currently married women: pills (2 percent), condoms (6 percent), and injectables and female sterilization (1 and 2 percent, respectively). Thus, the practice of family planning in the Kyrgyz Republic places high reliance on a single method, the IUD. Source of Methods. The vast majority of women obtain their contraceptives through the public sector (97 percent): 35 percent from a government hospital, and 36 percent from a women counseling center. The source of supply of the method depends on the method being used. For example, most women using IUDs obtain them at women counseling centers (42 percent) or hospitals (39 percent). Government pharmacies supply 46 percent of pill users and 75 percent of condom users. Pill users also obtain supplies from women counseling centers or (33 percent). Fertility Preferences. A majority of women in the Kyrgyz Republic (45 percent) indicated that they desire no more children. By age 25-29, 20 percent want no more children, and by age 30-34, nearly half (46 percent) want no more children. Thus, many women come to the preference to stop childbearing at relatively young ages-when they have 20 or more potential years of childbearing ahead of them. For some of these women, the most appropriate method of contraception may be a long-acting method such as female sterilization. However, there is a deficiency of use of this method in the Kyrgyz Republic. In the interests of providing a broad range of safe and effective methods, information about and access to sterilization should be increased so that individual women can make informed decisions about using this method. INDUCED ABORTION Abortion Rates. From the KRDHS data, the total abortion rate (TAR)-the number of abortions a woman will have in her lifetime based on the currently prevailing abortion rates-was calculated. For the Kyrgyz Republic, the TAR for the period from mid-1994 to mid-1997 is 1.6 abortions per woman. The TAR for the Kyrgyz Republic is lower than recent estimates of the TAR for other areas of the former Soviet Union such as Kazakhstan (1.8), and Yekaterinburg and Perm in Russia (2.3 and 2.8, respectively), but higher than for Uzbekistan (0.7). The TAR is higher in urban areas (2.1 abortions per woman) than in rural areas (1.3). The TAR in Bishkek City is 2.0 which is two times higher than in other regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. Additionally the TAR is substantially lower among ethnic Kyrgyz women (1.3) than among women of Uzbek and Russian ethnicities (1.9 and 2.2 percent, respectively). INFANT MORTALITY In the KRDHS, infant mortality data were collected based on the international definition of a live birth which, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, is a birth that breathes or shows any sign of life (United Nations, 1992). Mortality Rates. For the five-year period before the survey (i.e., approximately mid-1992 to mid1997), infant mortality in the Kyrgyz Republic is estimated at 61 infant deaths per 1,000 births. The estimates of neonatal and postneonatal mortality are 32 and 30 per 1,000. The MOH publishes infant mortality rates annually but the definition of a live birth used by the MOH differs from that used in the survey. As is the case in most of the republics of the former Soviet Union, a pregnancy that terminates at less than 28 weeks of gestation is considered premature and is classified as a late miscarriage even if signs of life are present at the time of delivery. Thus, some events classified as late miscarriages in the MOH system would be classified as live births and infant deaths according to the definitions used in the KRDHS. Infant mortality rates based on the MOH data for the years 1983 through 1996 show a persistent declining trend throughout the period, starting at about 40 per 1,000 in the early 1980s and declining to 26 per 1,000 in 1996. This time trend is similar to that displayed by the rates estimated from the KRDHS. Thus, the estimates from both the KRDHS and the Ministry document a substantial decline in infant mortality; 25 percent over the period from 1982-87 to 1992-97 according to the KRDHS and 28 percent over the period from 1983-87 to 1993-96 according to the MOH estimates. This is strong evidence of improvements in infant survivorship in recent years in the Kyrgyz Republic. It should be noted that the rates from the survey are much higher than the MOH rates. For example, the KRDHS estimate of 61 per 1,000 for the period 1992-97 is twice the MOH estimate of 29 per 1,000 for 1993-96. Certainly, one factor leading to this difference are the differences in the definitions of a live birth and infant death in the KRDHS survey and in the MOH protocols. A thorough assessment of the difference between the two estimates would need to take into consideration the sampling variability of the survey's estimate. However, given the magnitude of the difference, it is likely that it arises from a combination of definitional and methodological differences between the survey and MOH registration system. MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH The Kyrgyz Republic has a well-developed health system with an extensive infrastructure of facilities that provide maternal care services. This system includes special delivery hospitals, the obstetrics and gynecology departments of general hospitals, women counseling centers, and doctor's assistant/midwife posts (FAPs). There is an extensive network of FAPs throughout the rural areas. Delivery. Virtually all births in the Kyrgyz Republic (96 percent) are delivered at health facilities: 95 percent in delivery hospitals and another 1 percent in either general hospitals

Users can access data related to international women’s health as well as data on population and families, education, work, power and decision making, violence against women, poverty, and environment. Background World’s Women Reports are prepared by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). Reports are produced in five year intervals and began in 1990. A major theme of the reports is comparing women’s situation globally to that of men in a variety of fields. Health data is available related to life expectancy, cause of death, chronic disease, HIV/AIDS, prenatal care, maternal morbidity, reproductive health, contraceptive use, induced abortion, mortality of children under 5, and immunization. User functionality Users can download full text or specific chapter versions of the reports in color and black and white. A limited number of graphs are available for download directly from the website. Topics include obesity and underweight children. Data Notes The report and data tables are available for download in PDF format. The next report is scheduled to be released in 2015. The most recent report was released in 2010.

Between April 2019 and December 2020, we recruited women seeking abortions from 22 sites across Nepal, including those seeking an abortion at any gestational age (April-May 2019) and then only those seeking an abortion at or after 10 weeks of gestation (May 2019-December 2020). We conducted interviewer-led surveys with participants at six weeks after abortion-seeking and six-month intervals for three years. we examined the factors associated with presenting for abortion before versus after 10 weeks gestation as one measure of access to abortion services. We also describe the characteristics of women who received or were denied an abortion, their reasons for the denial, and whether they were able to obtain an abortion subsequent to being denied, among those who completed a 6-week or subsequent follow-up survey.

Context

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ABSTRACT: Objective: To analyze the predictive factors of abortion among teenagers with gestational history. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out with 464 teenagers aged between 15 and 19 years, from Teresina, Piauí, who completed a pregnancy in the first quarter of 2006 in six city maternity hospitals. Data were collected from May to December 2008, at the teenagers' home, after their identification in the hospital records. For the univariate analysis of data, descriptive statistics was used, and for bivariate analysis, Pearson's χ2-test and Z-test were applied. Multivariate analysis was performed by means of the Multiple logistic regression (MLR), with significance level of 5%. Results: Teenagers who had more than one pregnancy were almost nine times more likely to have an abortion when compared to those who had only one pregnancy (p = 0.002). Furthermore, the teenagers who reported being pressured by the partner to have an abortion were four times and a half more likely to do it, when compared to those pressured by relatives and friends (p = 0.007). Conclusion: The teenagers who had two or more pregnancies and were pressured by the partner to have an abortion were more prone to do it. Thus, it is necessary that programs of Family Planning include the teenagers more effectively, aiming at avoiding unwanted pregnancies among this population and, consequently, abortion induced in poor conditions.

Hospital-based recruitment of females seeking termination of pregnancy or post-abortion care at a Zambian government health facility. The research used an innovative mixed methods interview which combined quantitative and qualitative techniques in one interview. Each participant was interviewed by two research assistants (RAs). One RA led the interview, using a conventional interview schedule in the manner of a qualitative semi-structured interview, while the second RA listened and, where possible, completed the quantitative ‘data sheet’. When the first RA has completed the qualitative part of the interview, interviewer two took over and asked the participant any remaining questions not yet answered on the data sheet. This technique allowed us to capture both the individual fine-grained narratives, which are not easily captured in a questionnaire-type survey, especially on such a sensitive area, as well as survey data. Rather than conducting an in-depth qualitative interview and a survey, our method reduced the burden on the respondent, avoiding repetition of questions and reducing the time taken. The quantitative data was used to establish the distribution of out-of-pocket expenses, for women and their households, incurred using hospital-based safe abortion and PAC services. Qualitative data established the range of reasons why women sought abortion, and why they used or did not use safe abortion services, and explored the social costs and benefits of their trajectories, and the policy implications. Unsafe abortion is a significant, preventable, cause of maternal mortality and morbidity and is both a cause and a consequence of poverty. Unsafe abortion is the most easily prevented cause of maternal death. Post-abortion care (PAC) is a strategy to address the problem of the outcomes of unsafe abortion.This research aims to establish how investment in safe abortion services impacts on the socio-economic conditions of women and their households, and the implications for policy-making and service provision in Zambia. The microeconomic impact of out-of-pocket health expenditure for reproductive health and abortion care, have received little attention.The data available for sub-Saharan Africa are particularly scanty and poor quality. The approach is multi-disciplinary, with primary data collection of both qualitative and quantitative data, including a quantitative survey and in-depth qualitative interviews with women who have sought PAC, and policymaker interviews. Zambia's relatively liberal legal context, and the existence of PAC provision facilitates research on issues related to abortion which can have broader lessons for developments elsewhere in the region.The majority of women seeking abortion-related care in Zambia do so for PAC following an unsafe abortion, and have not accessed safe abortion services.This demands better understanding and analysis. Over a 12 month period, all women identified as having undergone either a safe abortion or having received PAC following an attempted induced abortion at a Zambian government health facility were approached for inclusion in the study. We did not interview women identified as having received PAC following a spontaneous abortion. Undoubtedly, some women claiming to have had a spontaneous abortion had in fact attempted to induce an abortion, and at times medical evidence suggested so, however we could not interview them about the attempt as they were not willing to disclose any information on an attempted abortion. As part of the research team we employed two midwives working on the obstetrics and gynaecology ward to act as gatekeepers, identifying suitable women for recruitment and asking them to participate in the study. The research used an innovative mixed methods interview which combined quantitative and qualitative techniques in one interview. Each participant was interviewed by two research assistants (RAs). One RA led the interview, using a conventional interview schedule in the manner of a qualitative semi-structured interview, while the second RA listened and, where possible, completed the quantitative ‘data sheet’. When the first RA has completed the qualitative part of the interview, interviewer two took over and asked the participant any remaining questions not yet answered on the data sheet. This technique allowed us to capture both the individual fine-grained narratives, which are not easily captured in a questionnaire-type survey, especially on such a sensitive area, as well as survey data. Rather than conducting an in-depth qualitative interview and a survey, our method reduced the burden on the respondent, avoiding repetition of questions and reducing the time taken.

There is evidence from the United States that the legalisation of abortion has led to a significant reduction in neonatal and infant mortality. However, no research to date has been able to disentangle between effects of improved access to abortion at the household- and cohort-levels; there is no evidence for developing countries; and existing studies of the impact of abortion legalisation on early life health in the United States are not unanimous. Nepal initiated a drastic abortion reform in 2002. Moreover, because abortion facilities were made available to the public, the change in the law was not purely de jure. This research will collect data on local availability of abortion services, which opened at different times over a two-year period across the country. Combined with existing data sources, this information will allow estimating the effect of improved access to abortion more precisely, holding constant a number of potentially confounding factors. It will also compare neonatal mortality occurrence between siblings born before and those born after the opening of a nearby legal abortion centre, compare the effect on boys and girls, and estimate whether there is any evidence of improved access to abortion leading to sex-selective abortions. Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) provide legal abortion services in Nepal. Dates of CAC registration (i.e., official approval to carry out abortions) were obtained from official government records provided by the Ministry of Health, who also provided contact details for each of the 141 Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) centres registered by July 2006. Except for 2 of these 141 CACs, one which could not be reached, and one that did not appear to have ever existed after several checks, all were surveyed. A telephonic survey of all CAC facilities registered by July 2006 was carried out by the Center for Research on Environmental, Health and Population Activities (CREHPA), Kathmandu. Most interviews were completed from September to November 2009, but some more remote facilities could only be interviewed in January 2010 due to poor telephone connections.