The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

Evaluation of fetal congenital abnormalities leading to the licensing of therapeutic abortion in Legal Medicine of Isfahan from 2012 to 2014

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ali Soleymanpour 1
Mahboobeh Mogharehzadeh 1
Maryam Pourbakhtiyar 2
Narges Mehmandoost 3
Jalal karimi 4
1 B.Sc. of Legal Medicine, Legal Medicine Center of Isfahan Province, Isfahan, Iran.
2 MSc in Legal Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 BSc of Midwifery, Shahinshahr Treatment and Health Web, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
4 Epidemiologist, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
10.22038/ijogi.2017.8978
Abstract
Introduction: As many countries, abortion has always been a sensitive issue in terms of cultural, social, political and religion in Iran. This study was performed with aim to investigate the distribution and causes of fetal congenital abnormalities leading to the licensing of therapeutic abortion in Legal Medicine of Isfahan province.
Methods: This retrospective study with forensic epidemiology approach was performed on the records of therapeutic abortions certificates with fetal causes in Legal Medicine of Isfahan province from 2012 to 2014. During the study period, a total of 629 therapeutic abortions certificates with fetal causes were recorded which after evaluation of the mentioned abortions, data related to age, education and residence of the mother and the age of the fetus and the fetal causes of abortion were extracted and were recorded in data collection form. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) in descriptive statistics and analytic method of multinomial regression. P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: In terms of frequency distribution of fetal abnormalities, 233 (37.4%) cases of legal abortions certificates were due to cephalic disorders. The second most commonly fetal disorder is hydrops fetalis with 113(18%) cases. The third disorder is chromosomal or trisomy problems, which contains 85(13.5%) of the cases. Skeletal dysplasia with 69 (11%) cases, the fourth most common disorder, followed by thalassemia major with 46 (7.3%) cases.
Conclusion: The distribution of abortion is not the same in different cities of Isfahan. Considering the fact that a significant portion of abortions don’t refer to Legal Medicine and also the mothers who refer to Legal Medicine, but can't receive legal permission, so it is not possible to determine the true feature of abortion in Isfahan province.
Keywords
Forensic epidemiology
Forensic medicine
Legal abortion
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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 20, Issue 4
July 2017
Pages 23-25