title: Do women presenting for first and second-trimester abortion differ socio-demographically?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To identify the socio-demographic differences between a sample of women who present for first-trimester and second-trimester abortion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether women presenting late (in the second trimester) for abortion differ socio-demographically from those presenting early (in the first trimester).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data over 4 years for women presenting for second-trimester abortion were collected from the records of Family Planning Clinic at a public tertiary level teaching hospital in India. Eighty-four cases were analysed. The case presenting for first-trimester abortion after each second-trimester abortion was included for comparison. Information was gathered concerning age, parity, educational background, employment status, educational background of the husband, family expenditure and religion. Data were statistically analysed and significance determined using logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Second-trimester abortions represented 2% (84/4254) of all abortions in the study period. More women of higher age (P = 0.03) and parity (P = 0.02) and higher educational status (P = 0.04) presented for second-trimester abortion as compared to first-trimester abortion. The occupational status of the woman, husband's educational background, monthly family expenditure per person and religion did not significantly influence the time of presentation for abortion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Second-trimester abortions are associated with both increasing age and parity and higher education. This group of educated, older and multiparous women should be one of those targeted for counseling to reduce the risks associated with second trimester abortion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Safdarjang Hospital and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zutshi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batra
keywords: Abortion; First trimester; Second trimester; Socio-demographic characteristics
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