Multiple Abortions May Increase Risk Of Prematurity And Low Birth Weight In Future Pregnancies

Main Category: Pregnancy / Obstetrics Also Included In: Abortion; Pediatrics / Children's Health Article Date: 31 Aug 2012 - 0:00 PDT

One of the largest studies to look at the effect of induced abortions on a subsequent first birth has found that women who have had three or more abortions have a higher risk of some adverse birth outcomes, such as delivering a baby prematurely and with a low birth weight. The research, which is published online in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction [1] , found that among 300,858 Finnish mothers, 31,083 (10.3%) had had one induced abortion between 1996-2008, 4,417 (1.5%) had two, and 942 (0.3%) had three or more induced abortions before a first birth (excluding twins and triplets). Those who had had three or more induced abortions had a small, but statistically significant increased risk of having a baby with very low birth weight (less than 1500g), low birth weight (less than 2500g), or of a preterm birth (before 37 weeks), or very preterm birth (before 28 weeks), compared to women who had had no abortions. There was a slightly increased risk of a very preterm birth for women who had had two induced abortions. Dr Reija Klemetti, an associate professor and senior researcher in public health at the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki, Finland, who led the research, said: "Our results suggest that induced abortions before the first birth, particularly three or more abortions, are associated with a marginally increased risk during the first birth. However, the increased risk is very small, particularly after only one or even two abortions, and women should not be alarmed by our findings." Most of the induced abortions (88%) were surgically performed and nearly all (91%) were performed before 12 weeks gestation. The researchers adjusted their findings to take account of various factors that could affect birth outcomes, such as social background, marital status, age, smoking, previous ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages. Multiple births (twins and triplets) were excluded. The risk of having a baby born very preterm appeared to increase slightly with each induced abortion, but only the risk from two abortions or more was statistically significant. "To put these risks into perspective, for every 1000 women, three who have had no abortion will have a baby born under 28 weeks," said Dr Klemetti. "This rises to four women among those who have had one abortion, six women who have had two abortions, and 11 women who have had three or more." Among women who had had three or more abortions, there was a statistically significant increased risk of a third (35%) of having a baby born preterm (before 37 weeks), a two-fold

(225%) increased risk of very low birth weight, and a two-fifths (43%) increased risk of low birth weight. The study also showed a small increased risk of a baby's death around the time of birth. However, the numbers for this finding were very low (1498 births or five per 1000 babies) and so should be treated with caution. In addition, the authors say they might not have been able to fully adjust for all the factors that could affect this result and perinatal deaths are sensitive to social factors such as poverty. "Our study is the first large study to look at a broad set of perinatal outcomes and to control, at least partly, for the most important confounding factors such as smoking and socioeconomic position," said Dr Klemetti. "However, it is important to say that even though we adjusted for these factors, and also ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages, there might be some confounding for social class that we could not control for. Most probably, this may be related to women's (or some of these women's) way of life, life habits, and sexual and reproductive health. "Furthermore, this is an observational study and, however large and well-controlled, it only shows there is a link between abortion and some adverse birth outcomes - it cannot prove that abortions are the cause. "Finland has one of the lowest rates of induced abortion in Europe [2], but even so, a large number are carried out every year. In addition, Finland has good quality abortion and maternity care, and in other contexts, particularly in poorer countries, the situation may be different. For these reasons, even a very small increase in the risk of poor birth outcomes could have significant health implications, as preterm births and low birth weight can have serious, adverse effects on the health and well-being of both babies and mothers. "We suggest that the potential for increased risks for subsequent births should be included in sex education, especially as there are other, good reasons to avoid induced abortions. Health professionals should also be informed about the potential risks of repeat abortions."

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/249652.php

Who promotes abortion?

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:18 am | Sunday, August 19th, 2012 The single biggest promoter of increased abortions in the Philippines is the anti-RH movement, says a coalition of reproductive health groups. The groups were reacting to statements made by anti-RH senator Tito Sotto, who, based on evidence copied from Facebook, blogs and other similar sources accuses several organizations and civil society leaders of promoting abortion. The groups turn the tables on Sotto, saying that those against reproductive health in the Philippines fanatically [oppose] family planning, postabortion care and sexuality educationin the guise of being prolife. Yet these RH measures are critical to reducing abortions and saving lives. It certainly makes a lot of sense, since giving women access to family planning, giving them the means to act on their reproductive plans, means they would in most cases get pregnant only when they want to, and have only the number of children they want. Effective family planning minimizes unplanned pregnancies, the groups say, noting that an unwanted (or coerced or unplanned) pregnancy is frequently the starting point of most womens decision to undergo an abortion. At the same time, humane postabortion care reduces repeat abortions through counseling and immediate access to contraception, the groups say. Sexuality education by trained schoolteachers cuts down teenagers risky sexual behaviors. Talk is cheap, proclaim the groups. Reducing abortions requires hard work. In fact, during the 10 years of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyos administration, during which efforts to pass an RH bill were frustrated by both legislative rigmarole and the orders of the President, the government failed miserably to reduce abortion. Data from a regular national survey on maternal health (the NDHS) show that in 2008, after years of campaigning and hundreds of millions of pesos spent for natural family planning, less than 1 percent of married women reported using the method. From 1993 to 2008, teenage pregnancy rates rose steadily from 6.5 to 9.9 percent. This could very well have been the result of the failure of the government to implement a program on sexuality education, after anti-RH protests drowned out the voices of rationality. *** It is difficult to pin down with certainty the total number of induced abortions in this country, owing to its illegal status and the reluctance of women to admit to undergoing the procedure. But the 2008 NDHS reveals that 37 percent of all birthspregnancies that made it to term were unplanned, equivalent to some 2,300 unplanned births every day. A study puts the number of abortions at the time at roughly 473,000 per year. In reply, anti-RH groups attribute the growing number of abortions to the contraceptive mentality, implying that only women and men whose contraceptive efforts had failed would seek an abortion or support their partners decisions. But what about those who wanted to delay or space their pregnancies but didnt have the money or their partners permission to use protection? What of victims of rape or incestuous rape? Or young people who didnt know any better until they found themselves pregnant or had made their girlfriend pregnant? Would a woman pregnant with a child she had wanted and planned resort to an abortion? Whatever the exact number [of abortions] is, most abortions in the Philippines are preventable and could have been drastically reduced by programs mandated in the RH Bill, the groups say. Prolife is a callous misnomer for those who drive women and girls to ignorance, unintended

pregnancy, life-threatening abortions, inhumane postabortion care, police harassment, social stigma, imprisonment and death. *** You might still remember this old poster showing a man with a huge pregnant belly, and the headline: If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament. But what if more and more convenient means of contraception (aside from condom use, vasectomy and celibacy) were available for use by men? Maybe contraception would not exactly be a sacrament, but I would bet that more men would be fighting to promote and protect their own reproductive rights. Well, we may very soon be able to test this premise. A report sent to me, accessed through the online magazine The Huffington Post, bears this tantalizing lead: The possibility of a male birth control pill may be creeping ever closer. The report says that scientists have discovered a small molecule that produces a rapid and reversible decrease in sperm count in mice. Researchers with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Baylor College of Medicine have reportedly discovered a compound, known as JQ1, that penetrates a boundary in the cells of the male testes and shuts off sperm development in the testicles. The result, its pointed out, is a form of nonhormonal birth control that is entirely reversible. *** Readers may remember some columns I wrote some months back about the efforts of researchers from the University of Surabaya in Indonesia to develop a male contraceptive that uses a chemical found in a common plant in the countryside. The leaves of the plant, researchers found, were usually given to tribal men who wanted to live with their partners but could not afford an elaborate wedding ceremony. There are many reasons for men wanting to use contraception, and, it seems, a growing number of researchers searching for a pill for men. If men had more access to and more choices among available and effective contraception, would male opposition to reproductive health disappear? Certainly, male legislators like Senator Sotto would be a lot less judgmental. Source: http://opinion.inquirer.net/35040/who-promotes-abortion

Sotto accuses groups of promoting abortion

By Cathy Yamsuan Philippine Daily Inquirer 11:31 pm | Wednesday, August 15th, 201

Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III MANILA, PhilippinesSenate majority leader Tito Sotto alleged on Wednesday that at least four non-government organizations presenting themselves as pro-women receive funding from international groups advocating abortion. In the second salvo of his series against the Reproductive Health bill, Sotto charged that international organizations including the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have programs targeting developing countries that aim to reduce their populations. In a speech delivered before a fully packed Senate gallery, Sotto named the local NGOs as the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN), its affiliate LIKHAAN and the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines, which actively participated in hearings on the RH bill. Among those in the gallery was former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral who, just on Tuesday, asked Sotto to produce the death certificate of his infant son whom the senator said was conceived despite the contraceptives his wife took. Cabral said contraceptives could not be responsible for the weak heart suffered by Sottos son but the senator insisted otherwise. Sotto said he would give Cabral a copy of the death certificate. I would like to take exception to the statements made by Dr. Cabral and to a certain extent by Congresswoman Garin, in reaction to my disclosure and confession on the death of my first son, Vincent Paul. I find their statements callous and insensitive and it is unfortunate that the reproductive health debate has come to this level. They should have given the sorrow of my family more respect, he said in his speech. In his speech, Sotto said the NGOs want to make it appear that their interest is the health of our women. But my research showed that they have partnered with foreign organizations to acquaint our society with modern and liberal RH schemes. The senator charged that FPOP, in particular, received a subsidy of $625,095 or almost P27.5M in 2011 from the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). FPOPs website displays the organizations support to the use of abortive facilities. In fact, the FPOP posted on its website an instructional brochure discussing different methods of abortion, depending on the weeks of pregnancy, Sotto charged.

Furthermore, FPOPs website is linked to a website named Women on Waves which provides contacts to abortion clinics worldwide, he added. Sotto hammered on IPPFs global agenda to promote abortion and the dissemination of contraceptives. RHAN, on the other hand, even submitted a budget proposal to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) containing a budget allocation for nurturing legislators to expedite the passage of the RH Bill, he said. Sotto described RHANs affiliate, LIKHAAN as among the local groups actively pushing for the RH bill. LIKHAAN openly supports abortion, as it features in its website step-by-step procedure on how to abort a baby. To make matters worse, the instructional material desperately intends to reach the Filipino masses by using Filipino language and putting pictures that clearly illustrate how to abort, Sotto charged. In addition, there is a video featuring Dr. Junice Melgar, head of Likhaan who was quoted as saying, If you are pro-women, you will have contacts to the services that are underground and whose other statements refer to abortion service providers, he added. These organizations have such huge budgets so its not surprising that they have very active campaigns for the RH bill on radio, TV, print and especially the Internet, Sotto noted. The strong pressure and the massive propaganda materials emanating from various groups cannot simply be put aside. They have been doing everything to impose their hidden agenda through the RH bill, Sotto said. He charged the DSWP of excluding unborn children in the definition of children, saying the group claimed that calling the unborn a child is going beyond what the Constitution provides. This organization further claims that only children have human rights, excepting the unborn, Sotto said. The senator blasted foreign organizations funding the local NGOs including the USAID, World Health Organization, World Bank and all economic agencies whom he said were given a directive to gear their policies and programs towards promoting the reduction of the worlds population especially in less developed countries based on National Security Memorandum 200 issued by Henry Kissinger. Sotto said Kissinger was the source of the entire family planning, population and povertyreduction programs of the US. All loans, grants and aid coming from the US and Western powers must be based on reduction of population through birth control. Since the USAID is the principal instrument for the so-called development programs, there are NGOs and government agencies in the Philippines that have been contacted, supported and funded by it, he added. These foreign organizations underhandedly seek to legalize abortion in countries where it is still a crime. And that I believe is exactly what theyre doing now in our country through this bill. This bill is a foreign-dictated policy, forcing us to adopt population control and abortion, contrary to the values that we uphold, said the staunch anti-RH senator. Sotto also questioned the claim of RH backers that 11 Filipino mothers die every day due to childbirth complications. Sotto said he sent his staff to conduct a nationwide survey of government hospitals to verify this detail. Instead of confirming this, however, Sotto said the Nueva Viscaya Provincial Hospital recorded only two maternal deaths for the entire 2011; the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, 4; the Batangas Regional Hospital, 7 out of 2,584 deliveries, or .27 percent, last year. Meanwhile, the Cavite Naval Hospital recorded no maternal deaths for 2011 at all. If the National Statistics Coordinating Board cannot confirm their claim of 11 maternal deaths daily, where did the Department of Health get this? Is it possible that foreign organizations fed it this figure to use it to pressure lawmakers like us? Sotto asked.

I think it was Joseph Goebbels, Hitlers hated propagandist, who said that a lie repeated several times would eventually be accepted as fact by the people, he recalled. This is exactly what is happening now since several documents have pointed out that the socalled 11 maternal deaths a day in the Philippines is a canard and yet RH proponents continued to hoist it as gospel truth. I challenge the RH bill supporters to give me the names of faces of the 11 mothers who died in one particular day if they want me to believe in their claim, Sotto dared. The senator said an employee of the Senate secretariat who visited Uganda recently reported that the same claim of 11 maternal deaths daily was also being bandied in that country by NGOs. The proponents of the bill also did not escape Sottos tirade as he observed that they admitted that they sought the assistance of various non-government organizations specifically to learn about the effects of certain procedures or nuances of terminologies used in the bill. This in effect gave these organizations the opportunity to incorporate their distorted beliefs and principles in the bill.With Karen Boncocan, INQUIRER.net Originally posted at 10:01 pm | Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/250673/sotto-bares-intl-groups-pressuring-ph-to-pass-rh-bill