Risk factors for induced abortions in St Petersburg, Estonia and Finland. Results from surveys among women of reproductive age.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the risk factors of self-reported abortion in St Petersburg, Estonia and Finland, which are neighbouring areas having different abortion rates.


METHODS
Data from four population-based questionnaire surveys (Finland 1992 and 1999; St Petersburg 2003; Estonia 2004) were used. With the exception of the 1992 Finnish survey (based on interviews) all were postal surveys. There were 1070 respondents in Finland (78% and 52% response rates), 1147 (68%) in St Petersburg, and 5190 (54%) in Estonia.


RESULTS
The prevalence of self-reported abortions was highest among women in St Petersburg and among the two oldest age groups of Russian-speaking Estonians. In all areas women with a history of abortion were more likely to have low education, children, a history of multiple partners and to have had their first intercourse when younger than 18 years. Insufficient use of reliable contraception, both at first and last intercourse, was the only risk factor that was more common in St Petersburg and in Estonia than in Finland. In Estonia, more Estonian than Russian-speaking women used reliable contraceptives.


CONCLUSIONS
The comparison of three areas suggests that high abortion rates are related to low contraceptive use and not to other risky sexual behaviour.
Regushevskaya
Elena
E
Family Medicine Department, St Petersburg Medical Academy of Postgraduate Studies, Russia. Elena.Regushevskaya@uta.fi
Dubikaytis
Tatiana
T
Laanpere
Made
M
Nikula
Minna
M
Kuznetsova
Olga
O
Haavio-Mannila
Elina
E
Karro
Hele
H
Hemminki
Elina
E
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult