title: Adverse childhood experiences and repeat induced abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to characterize the backgrounds of women who have repeat abortions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study of 259 women (mean age, 35.2 ± 5.6 years), the relation between adverse experiences in childhood and risk of having 2 or more abortions vs 0 or 1 abortion was examined. Self-reported adverse events occurring between the ages of 0 and 12 years were summed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent of confounding factors, women who experienced more abuse, personal safety, and total adverse events in childhood were more likely to have 2 or more abortions vs 0 abortions (odds ratio [OR], 2.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-5.71; OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.29-5.82; and OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.21-2.09, respectively) and vs 1 abortion (OR, 5.83; 95% CI, 1.71-19.89; OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.03-4.81; and OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.04-1.81, respectively). Women who experienced more family disruption events in childhood were more likely to have 2 or more abortions vs 0 abortions (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.14-2.69) but not vs 1 abortion (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.79-1.70).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women who have repeat abortions are more likely to have experienced childhood adversity than those having 0 or 1 abortion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California-San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA. maria.bleil@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bleil
authors.forename: Nancy E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Lauri A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pasch
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sternfeld
authors.forename: Renee A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Reijo-Pera
authors.forename: Marcelle I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Cedars
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors