Self-reports of induced abortion: an empathetic setting can improve the quality of data.
OBJECTIVE
This study estimated the proportion of incomplete abortions that are induced in hospital-based settings in Tanzania.


METHODS
A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in 2 phases at 3 hospitals in Tanzania. Phase 1 included 302 patients with a diagnosis of incomplete abortion, and phase 2 included 823 such patients.


RESULTS
In phase 1, in which cases were classified by clinical criteria and information from the patient, 3.9% to 16.1% of the cases were classified as induced abortion. In phase 2, in which the structured interview was changed to an empathetic dialogue and previously used clinical criteria were omitted, 30.9% to 60.0% of the cases were classified as induced abortion.


CONCLUSIONS
An empathetic dialogue improves the quality of data collected among women with induced abortion.
Rasch
V
V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. v.rasch@dadlnet.dk
Muhammad
H
H
Urassa
E
E
Bergström
S
S
D000024:Abortion, Illegal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000027:Abortion, Incomplete / Q000453:epidemiology; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014342:Truth Disclosure