Correcting spontaneous abortion rates for the presence of induced abortion

Abstract

This paper introduces a method for correcting spontaneous abortion rates by taking into consideration the fact that a number of spontaneous abortions are 'prevented' by induced abortions. This correction may be important in settings of high induced abortion incidence. The method is then applied to the data of the Italian region of Lombardy. The results obtained are compared to those obtained with previous correction methods, and it is concluded that the present method is useful and appropriate when data on induced and spontaneous abortions are available by gestational age.