B Blondel1, M Cuttini2, A D Hindori-Mohangoo3,4, M Gissler5, M Loghi6, C Prunet1, A Heino5, L Smith7, K van der Pal-de Bruin3, A Macfarlane8, J Zeitlin1. 1. INSERM UMR 1153, Obstetrical, Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Paris-Descartes University, Paris, France. 2. Clinical Care and Management Innovation Research Area, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Roma, Italy. 3. Department Child Health, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, TNO Healthy Living, Leiden, the Netherlands. 4. Department Public Health, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom Universiteit of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname. 5. THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. 6. Italian National Institute for Statistics (ISTAT), Rome, Italy. 7. Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. 8. City University, London, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe how terminations of pregnancy at gestational ages at or above the limit for stillbirth registration are recorded in routine statistics and to assess their impact on comparability of stillbirth rates in Europe. DESIGN: Analysis of aggregated data from the Euro-Peristat project. SETTING: Twenty-nine European countries. POPULATION: Births and late terminations in 2010. METHODS: Assessment of terminations as a proportion of stillbirths and derivation of stillbirth rates including and excluding terminations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stillbirth rates overall and excluding terminations. RESULTS: In 23 countries, it is possible to assess the contribution of terminations to stillbirth rates either because terminations are rare occurrences or because they can be distinguished from spontaneous stillbirths. Where terminations were reported, they accounted for less than 1.5% of stillbirths at 22+ weeks in Denmark, between 13 and 22% in Germany, Italy, Hungary, Finland and Switzerland, and 39% in France. Proportions were much lower at 24+ weeks, with the exception of Switzerland (7.4%) and France (39.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Terminations represent a substantial proportion of stillbirths at 22+ weeks of gestation in some countries. Countries where terminations occur at 22+ weeks should publish rates with and without terminations in order to improve international comparisons and the policy relevance of stillbirth statistics. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: For valid comparisons of stillbirth rates, data about late terminations of pregnancy are needed.
OBJECTIVE: To describe how terminations of pregnancy at gestational ages at or above the limit for stillbirth registration are recorded in routine statistics and to assess their impact on comparability of stillbirth rates in Europe. DESIGN: Analysis of aggregated data from the Euro-Peristat project. SETTING: Twenty-nine European countries. POPULATION: Births and late terminations in 2010. METHODS: Assessment of terminations as a proportion of stillbirths and derivation of stillbirth rates including and excluding terminations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stillbirth rates overall and excluding terminations. RESULTS: In 23 countries, it is possible to assess the contribution of terminations to stillbirth rates either because terminations are rare occurrences or because they can be distinguished from spontaneous stillbirths. Where terminations were reported, they accounted for less than 1.5% of stillbirths at 22+ weeks in Denmark, between 13 and 22% in Germany, Italy, Hungary, Finland and Switzerland, and 39% in France. Proportions were much lower at 24+ weeks, with the exception of Switzerland (7.4%) and France (39.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Terminations represent a substantial proportion of stillbirths at 22+ weeks of gestation in some countries. Countries where terminations occur at 22+ weeks should publish rates with and without terminations in order to improve international comparisons and the policy relevance of stillbirth statistics. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: For valid comparisons of stillbirth rates, data about late terminations of pregnancy are needed.
Authors: Anita C J Ravelli; Martine Eskes; Joris A M van der Post; Ameen Abu-Hanna; Christianne J M de Groot Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-05-26 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Mika Gissler; Mélanie Durox; Lucy Smith; Béatrice Blondel; Lisa Broeders; Ashna Hindori-Mohangoo; Karen Kearns; Rumyana Kolarova; Marzia Loghi; Urelija Rodin; Katarzyna Szamotulska; Petr Velebil; Guy Weber; Oscar Zurriaga; Jennifer Zeitlin Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2022-04-01 Impact factor: 3.367