Definitions of Abortion Mortality

 

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Note: Maternal mortality includes abortion related deaths. Abortion mortality is a subset of maternal mortality. By definition, then, maternal mortality must be equal than or greater to abortion mortality.

 

Abortion-related death: A death resulting from a direct complication of an abortion (legal or illegal), an indirect complication caused by a chain of events initiated by an abortion, or an aggravation of a preexisting condition by the physiologic or psychologic effect of abortion

In addition, any pregnancy-related death in which the pregnancy outcome was induced abortion regardless of the causal relation between the abortion and the death is considered an abortion-related death.[1]

abortion related death resulting from direct complication indirect aggravation preexisting condition

 

National case-fatality rates: Number of legal induced abortion related deaths per 100,000 reported as legal induced abortions.[2]

national case fatality rate number legal induced abortion related death per 100,000 reported

 

Abortion rate: The number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years.[3]

The abortion rate in the U.S. is about 15 abortions a year per every 1,000 women of reproductive age. The world abortion rate is about 28 abortions a year for every 1,000 women of reproductive age.

In 2008, there were about 4 million induced abortions in Europe. There were about 27 million induced abortions in Asia. Because Europe only 180 million women of reproductive age while Asia has 1 billion women of reproductive age, they have: 4/145 approximately equals 27/1,000.

Europe and Asia both have similar abortion rates of about 27 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age.[4]

abortion rate number of abortions per 1,000 women aged reproductive year 15-44 one thousand

 

Abortion ratio: abortions per 100 live births.[5]

The abortion ratio worldwide is 32:100. For every 100 live births, there are 32 abortions.

Western Africa has the lowest abortion ratio: 16 abortions for every 100 live births.

Eastern Europe has the highest abortion ratio: 93 abortions for every 100 live births.

The abortion ratio in the U.S. is about 23 abortions for every 100 live births.[6]

abortion ratio abortions per live births

 

Incidence: The number of abortions occurring each year.

 

Legal abortion: Abortions performed by a licensed clinician.[7]

 

Illegal abortion: Abortions performed by another person than a licensed clinician.[8]

 

Abortion: “Abortion” refers to the termination of pregnancy from whatever cause before the fetus is capable of extrauterine life.[9](WHO)

Note: Although the WHO defines abortion as termination before viability, other organizations define abortion as the termination of a pregnancy, without viability as a qualifier.

 

Spontaneous abortion:  Those terminated pregnancies that occur without deliberate measures before viability; unprovoked; miscarriages.[10]

 

Stillbirth: a baby born at or after viability with no signs of life.

 

Induced abortion: termination of pregnancy through a deliberate intervention intended to end the pregnancy.[11]

 

Therapeutic abortion: medically indicated abortion for women whose life or health is threatened by continuation of pregnancy or when the health of the fetus is threatened by congenital or genetic factors.[12] (WHO)

 

Unsafe abortion: a procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy carried out either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards, or both.

They are characterized by the lack or inadequacy of skills of the provider, hazardous techniques and unsanitary facilities. The definition also specifically notes that, “the legality or illegality of the services, however, may not be the defining factor of their safety.[13]”

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[1] Pazol, Karen, et al. “Abortion Surveillance—United States, 2009.” Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries (Washington, DC: 2002) 61.8 (2012): 1-44.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Sedgh, Gilda, et al. “Induced abortion: incidence and trends worldwide from 1995 to 2008.” The Lancet 379.9816 (2012): 625-632.

[5] Pazol, Karen, et al.

[6] “Abortion Ratios Worldwide in 2008.” Guttmacher Institute, 21 June 2012. Web.

[7] Pazol, Karen, et al.

[8] Ibid.

[9] “Post-abortion Family Planning: A Practical Guide for Programme Managers.” World Health Organization. Division of Reproductive Health, 97.20

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] World Health Organization. Complications of abortion: technical and managerial guidelines for prevention and treatment. World Health Organization, 1995.

[13] World Health Organization. Complications of abortion: technical and managerial guidelines for prevention and treatment. World Health Organization, 1995.

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