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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
To examine trends in pregnancy and abortion rates observed in Portugal in the last decade.
We abstracted all delivery and abortionrelated-admissions to Portuguese public hospitals (2000–2010) using a nationwide inpatient database(corresponding to nearly 96% of all deliveries). We
computed age-specific pregnancy and termination of pregnancy rates (all and induced abortion)considering the age groups less than 15, 15–19, 20–34, 35–39 and more than 39 years, using national population estimates as denominator. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate average
annual percent change (AAPC) in rates and to
identify points in time when significant changes in trend occurred.
Youngest teenager pregnancy rates (less than 15 yrs.)decreased significantly from 0.6 to 0.3 per 1000 women (AAPC=-4.9%; p=0.01) with a non-significant decrease
in abortion rates (AAPC=-4.1%; p=0.100). Pregnancy and abortion rates per 1000 15–19 year old girls, showed no significant variation up to 2003 (AAPC=-1.8%;p=0.071 for pregnancy and AAPC=2.5%; p=0.449 for abortion). Then, a significant decrease was
observed either in pregnancy (from 20.1 to 14.6; AAPC=-5.2%; p<0.001) and in abortion rates (from 2.5 to 1.5; AAPC =-8.2%; p<0.001). Pregnancy rates per 1000 women aged 20–34 decreased from 78.1 to
66.5. It corresponded to a significant decline up to 2004 (AAPC=-3.1%; p=0.020) but a stable course onwards (AAPC=-0.6%; p=0.389). Abortion rates in this age
group steadily decreased from 7.7 to 5.5 per 1000 women (AAPC=-3.24%; p<0.001). In contrast,there was a significant increase in pregnancy rates from 32.3 to 37.5 per 1000 women aged 35–39(AAPC=1.54; p<0.001) and from 2.9 to 3.2 per 1000 women aged 40 or more (AAPC=1.21; p<0.001). Abortion rates per 1000 women aged 35–39 showed an
inflexion point such that up to 2005 there was no significant
annual change (AAPC=1.5; p=0.239), while
from 2005 onwards this rate decreased significantly from 5.7 to 4.6 (AAPC=-4.3; p=0.011). Among women aged 40 or more, abortion rates steadily decreased from 0.9 to 0.7 (AAPC=-4.3; p=0.011). Along this time period,induced abortion rates showed no significant changes in all age groups.
Conclusions: Pregnancy rates showed downward
trend among adolescent girls but an upward trend among older women. Still, no considerable changes occurred in induced abortion rates. Our results suggest
the influence of family planning and also the
postponement of pregnancy to older ages. There is evidence of increasing trend in planned pregnancy.
Description
Keywords
Pregnancy rate Abortion rate Time-trends Portugal
Citation
Lopes, Sofia; Teixeira, Cristina; Barros, Henrique (2014). Time-trends in pregnancy: findings from Portugal. In The European Journal Of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care. ISSN 1362-5187. S87-S87
Publisher
Jean-Jacques Amy