title: Profiles of women presenting for abortions in Singapore: focus on teenage abortions and late abortions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Teenage abortions predispose women to adverse pregnancy outcomes in subsequent pregnancies such as anemia, stillbirths, preterm deliveries and low birth weight babies. We aim to profile the women presenting for abortions in our institution and determine risk factors for late presentation for abortions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective cohort study, all women who underwent an abortion at the National University Hospital, Singapore, from 2005 to 2009 were recruited. Data was obtained from a prepared questionnaire during the mandatory pre-abortion counseling sessions. Profiles of women aged <20 years were compared with those ≥ 20 years old using Chi-square test if the assumptions for Chi-square test were met; otherwise, Fisher's exact test was carried out. Logistic regression was used to investigate the risk factors for second trimester termination of pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  2109 women presented for induced abortions, of which 1998 had single abortion throughout the course of the study. The mean age of women with single abortion was 29.1 years (sd 7). In the group of women with single abortion, 182 (9.1%) were teenage abortions. In contrast to women ≥ 20 years of age, pregnant teenagers were more likely not to have used any contraception (51.1% vs. 25.2%) and more likely to present late for abortions (39.6% vs. 15.9%). Other risk factors for late presentation for abortions include Malay ethnicity, singlehood, nulliparity and lack of prior usage of contraception.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Teenagers are more likely to have no prior contraceptive usage and to present late for abortions. Lack of proper sexual education and awareness of contraceptive measures may have a major contributory factor to such a trend in teenage abortions. Recommendations have been made in order to curb this societal problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, NUHS Tower Block, Singapore.
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Hungchew
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Euleong
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Kuldip
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore; D012847:Single Person; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult