Ectopic pregnancy in Greenland. An epidemiological study.

A retrospective epidemiological investigation was carried out to study the rate and incidence of ectopic pregnancy (EP) in Greenland. Data from 7 of Greenland's 16 medical districts, representing 48% of the population, were available for analysis covering the years 1980-1984. A total of 4481 pregnancies were reported, including 105 cases of EP. A rate of EP 2.34 was calculated, one of the highest on record, and significantly higher than Scandinavian figures representing the same period. Estimated from our figures there would be 44 cases of EP annually in Greenland. Annual fluctuations, however, were seen, and a positive correlation was found to notified cases of Neisseria infections. Significance from the null hypothesis, however, was only found at the 10% level.