Abstract
Objective
We sought to estimate the prevalence of rape-related pregnancy as an indication for
abortion at two public Chicago facilities and to describe demographic and clinical
correlates of women who terminated rape-related pregnancies.
Methods
We performed a cross-sectional study of women obtaining abortion at the Center for
Reproductive Health (CRH) at University of Illinois Health Sciences Center and Reproductive
Health Services (RHS) at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital between August 2009 and August
2013. Gestational age limits at CRH and RHS were 23+6 and 13+6 weeks, respectively. We estimated the prevalence of rape-related pregnancy based on
billing code (CRH) or data from an administrative database (RHS), and examined relationships
between rape-related pregnancy and demographic and clinical variables.
Results
Included were 19,465 visits for abortion. The majority of patients were Black (85.6%).
Prevalence of abortion for rape-related pregnancy was 1.9%, and was higher at CRH
(6.9%) than RHS (1.5%). Later gestational age was associated with abortion for rape-related
pregnancy (median 12 days, p<.001). Younger age and Black race were associated with abortion for rape-related
pregnancy at CRH only (p<.001 for both). Chlamydia and gonorrhea infection were no
more prevalent among women terminating rape-related pregnancy than among those terminating
for other indications.
Conclusion
Rape-related pregnancy as an indication for abortion had a low, but clinically significant
prevalence at two urban Chicago family planning centers. Later gestational age was
associated with abortion for rape-related pregnancy.
Implications
Rape-related pregnancy may occur with higher prevalence among some subgroups of women
seeking abortion than others. Efforts to address rape-related pregnancy in the abortion
care setting are needed.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 27, 2015
Accepted:
January 12,
2015
Received in revised form:
January 9,
2015
Received:
August 8,
2014
Footnotes
☆This study was unfunded.
☆☆None of the authors report a conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
