L E Ferris1, M McMain-Klein. 1. Department of Behavioural Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ont.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess interregional differences in the utilization of abortion services in Ontario from 1985 to 1992. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of provincial therapeutic abortion database. SETTING: All hospitals conducting abortions between 1985 and 1992 and all free-standing abortion clinics conducting abortions between 1990 and 1992. POPULATION: All women in Ontario aged 15 to 44 years who underwent a therapeutic abortion in Ontario during the study period. OUTCOME MEASURES: Utilization of abortion services by county and age-specific abortion rates by county of residence. RESULTS: From 1985 to 1989, when only hospital data were gathered, the mean therapeutic abortion rate increased by 11.2%. From 1990 to 1992, when data from hospitals and free-standing clinics were collected, the mean rate increased by 26.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed significant variation in the age-standardized abortion rates between counties in each study year (p < 0.0001). The counties with age-standardized rates below the 25th percentile had the highest proportions of women who sought abortion services outside their county of residence; in some of these counties no abortions were performed in local facilities. CONCLUSION: There are interregional variations in the utilization of abortion services in Ontario. These disparities raise questions about the accessibility of abortion services and need to be further investigated.
OBJECTIVE: To assess interregional differences in the utilization of abortion services in Ontario from 1985 to 1992. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of provincial therapeutic abortion database. SETTING: All hospitals conducting abortions between 1985 and 1992 and all free-standing abortion clinics conducting abortions between 1990 and 1992. POPULATION: All women in Ontario aged 15 to 44 years who underwent a therapeutic abortion in Ontario during the study period. OUTCOME MEASURES: Utilization of abortion services by county and age-specific abortion rates by county of residence. RESULTS: From 1985 to 1989, when only hospital data were gathered, the mean therapeutic abortion rate increased by 11.2%. From 1990 to 1992, when data from hospitals and free-standing clinics were collected, the mean rate increased by 26.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed significant variation in the age-standardized abortion rates between counties in each study year (p < 0.0001). The counties with age-standardized rates below the 25th percentile had the highest proportions of women who sought abortion services outside their county of residence; in some of these counties no abortions were performed in local facilities. CONCLUSION: There are interregional variations in the utilization of abortion services in Ontario. These disparities raise questions about the accessibility of abortion services and need to be further investigated.
Authors: Wendy V Norman; Edith R Guilbert; Christopher Okpaleke; Althea S Hayden; E Steven Lichtenberg; Maureen Paul; Katharine O'Connell White; Heidi E Jones Journal: Can Fam Physician Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 3.275