Cates W, Grimes D A, Smith J C, Tyler C W
JAMA. 1977 Jan 31;237(5):452-5.
As determined by the Center for Disease Control's epidemiologic surveillance of abortion mortality, the death-to-case rate for legal abortion in the United States for the three years 1972 to 1974 was 3.9/100,000 procedures. This mortality compares favorably with that from other commonly performed surgical procedures. Women who were older, were of nonwhite races, had the procedure in their state of residence, were at later gestational age, and who underwent intrauterine instillation or major abdominal surgery had the highest mortality. Duration of pregnancy proved to be the most important determinant of risk. Compared to mortality from pregnancy and childbirth, legal abortion in the first trimester was almost nine times safer.
根据疾病控制中心对堕胎死亡率的流行病学监测，1972年至1974年这三年间，美国合法堕胎的死亡与病例比为每100,000例手术中有3.9例死亡。这一死亡率与其他常见外科手术的死亡率相比具有优势。年龄较大、非白人种族、在其居住州进行手术、妊娠晚期以及接受子宫内滴注或腹部大手术的女性死亡率最高。妊娠时长被证明是风险的最重要决定因素。与妊娠和分娩的死亡率相比，孕早期合法堕胎的安全性几乎高出九倍。
