Cameron Sharon T, Riddell Julie, Brown Audrey, Thomson Andrew, Melville Catriona, Flett Gillian, Caird Lucy, Laird George
a NHS Lothian , Edinburgh ;
b University of Glasgow , Glasgow ;
Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2016;21(2):183-8. doi: 10.3109/13625187.2015.1111326. Epub 2015 Nov 15.
Women in Scotland who request an abortion (for non-medical reasons) within the legal gestational limit (up to 24 weeks) but beyond the gestational limit of all abortion facilities in Scotland (only up to 20 weeks) must travel to England if they wish to terminate the pregnancy. We wished to determine the number and characteristics of women presenting at ≥16 weeks' gestation for abortion, and compare the characteristics of those proceeding to abortion with those continuing the pregnancy.
Over a period of 12 months we conducted a prospective audit of women presenting at ≥16 weeks' gestation to abortion services throughout Scotland. The characteristics of women proceeding to abortion and those continuing the pregnancy were compared.
A total of 267 women presented for abortion at ≥16 weeks' gestation. Their median age was 22 years (range 14 to 47 years); 231 were from deprived areas (86.5%), 128 (47.9%) already had a child and 73 (27.3%) had previously undergone abortion. A total of 175 women (65.5%) proceeded to abortion, locally (n = 125; 46.8%) or in England (50; 18.7%). Those at ≥20 weeks' gestation were statistically more likely to continue the pregnancy than those at earlier gestations (p < 0.001).
Relatively few women present for abortion in Scotland at ≥16 weeks' gestation. Those who are over 20 weeks' gestation and would need to travel to England for abortion are more likely to continue the pregnancy, suggesting that travel is a barrier to accessing legal abortion for this group of women. Provision of abortion services up to 24 weeks' gestation should be considered within Scotland.
在苏格兰，因非医学原因要求堕胎的女性，若其孕周在法定妊娠期限（最长24周）内，但超出了苏格兰所有堕胎机构的妊娠期限（仅至20周），若她们希望终止妊娠，则必须前往英格兰。我们希望确定妊娠≥16周前来堕胎的女性数量及特征，并比较那些进行堕胎的女性与继续妊娠的女性的特征。
在12个月的时间里，我们对苏格兰各地妊娠≥16周前来堕胎服务机构的女性进行了前瞻性审计。比较了进行堕胎的女性和继续妊娠的女性的特征。
共有267名女性在妊娠≥16周时前来堕胎。她们的年龄中位数为22岁（范围为14至47岁）；231人来自贫困地区（86.5%），128人（47.9%）已有一个孩子，73人（27.3%）曾做过堕胎手术。共有175名女性（65.5%）进行了堕胎，在当地（n = 125；46.8%）或在英格兰（50人；18.7%）。妊娠≥20周的女性比妊娠早期的女性在统计学上更有可能继续妊娠（p < 0.001）。
在苏格兰妊娠≥16周前来堕胎的女性相对较少。那些妊娠超过20周且需要前往英格兰堕胎的女性更有可能继续妊娠，这表明出行是这组女性获得合法堕胎服务的一个障碍。应考虑在苏格兰提供直至妊娠24周的堕胎服务。
