BACKGROUND:

Reduction in costs of hormonal contraceptives is often proposed to reduce rates of induced abortion among young women. This study investigates the relationship between rates of induced abortion and reimbursement of dispensed hormonal contraceptives among young women in Sweden. Comparisons are made with the Nordic countries Finland, Norway and Denmark.

METHODS:

Official statistics on induced abortion and numbers of prescribed and dispensed hormonal contraceptives presented as "Defined Daily Dose/thousand women" (DDD/T) aged 15-19 years were compiled and related to levels of reimbursement in all Swedish counties by using public official data. The Swedish numbers of induced abortion were compared to those of Finland, Norway and Denmark. The main outcome measure was rates of induced abortion and DDD/T.

RESULTS:

No correlation was observed between rates of abortion and reimbursement among Swedish counties. Nor was any correlation found between sales of hormonal contraceptives and the rates of abortion. In a Nordic perspective, Finland and Denmark, which have no reimbursement at all, and Norway all have lower rates of induced abortion than Sweden.

CONCLUSIONS:

Reimbursement does not seem to be enough in order to reduce rates of induced abortion. Evidently, other factors such as attitudes, education, religion, tradition or cultural differences in each of Swedish counties as well as in the Nordic countries may be of importance. A more innovative approach is needed in order to facilitate safe sex and to protect young women from unwanted pregnancies.

Objective. To evaluate the effect of a weight-gain restriction programme for obese pregnant women on sickness absence days and pregnancy benefit days during pregnancy and postpartum.

Design. A prospective, controlled intervention study. The Swedish Social Security Agency's records were utilized to compile sickness absence and pregnancy benefit information.

Setting. Antenatal care clinics in the south-east of Sweden.

Subjects. One hundred fifty-five obese pregnant women who participated in a weight restriction program with weekly structured motivational and behavioural talks combined with aqua-aerobics during pregnancy. A total of 193 obese pregnant women with no intervention served as controls.

Main outcome measures. Sickness absence benefits and pregnancy benefits expressed as a percentage.

Results. On average women in the intervention group had 76.68 total full days of sickness absence benefit compared with 53.09days in the control group. Total full days of pregnancy benefits were 39.66% days and 41.41% for the intervention and control groups respectively. For the women who were on sick leave there were no differences between the groups in the amount of days taken.

Conclusions. Given the complexity of factors that have an influence on sickness absence leave, it is possible that programmes that do not address the influence of social aspects and attitudes towards sickness absence have limited effect.

Aim To study cord blood concentrations of adiponectin and leptin in children born by normal weight, overweight and obese mothers and to study these parameters in relation to a weight gain intervention programme for obese mothers. Methods Ten millilitre cord blood was collected and analysed for leptin and adiponectin concentrations in children with gestational age andgt;37weeks born by 60 normal weight, 45 overweight and 145 obese mothers. 82 obese mothers took part in a weight gain intervention programme. Results Concentrations of leptin and adiponectin were higher in cord blood from children of overweight and obese mothers compared with children of normal weight mothers (leptin: Md 13.2, 30, 3 and 90.2ng/mL respectively, pandlt;0.001; adiponectin 35.9, 205.4, 213.8ng/L pandlt;0.001). No differences were found between overweight and obese mothers. The weight gain intervention programme for obese pregnant women had significant effects on the weight gain during pregnancy but had no effects on cord blood serum concentrations of leptin and adiponectin. Conclusion Cord blood leptin and adiponectin concentrations were higher in children born by overweight or obese women compared with children of normal weight mothers. A weight gain intervention programme for obese pregnant women did not affect these results. Intrauterine exposition to high concentrations of leptin and adiponectin may play a role in weight development later in life.

Objective. Most pregnant women are anxious about the delivery and up to 30% develop varying degrees of fear of childbirth (FOC). Secondary FOC occurs in parous women who have experienced a traumatic delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate the time to subsequent delivery and delivery outcome in women with secondary FOC, compared with a reference group.

Setting. Southeast Sweden.

Sample. 356 parous pregnant women with secondary FOC and a reference group of 634 parous women without FOC.

Design. Descriptive, retrospective case–control study.

Main outcome measures. Time to next pregnancy and delivery outcome.

Results. More women with secondary FOC had a longer interval to subsequent delivery compared with parous women without FOC (p = 0.005). Women with secondary FOC had 5.2 times higher probability of having a cesarean section than the reference group. Women with secondary FOC also had on average a 40-minute longer duration of active labor than women without FOC (p < 0.001).

Conclusions. Secondary fear of childbirth prolongs the time to subsequent delivery and the active phase of labor itself, and increases the risk for cesarean section.

Objective Induced abortion is more frequent in Sweden than in many other Western countries. We wanted to investigate attitudes and knowledge about induced abortion among politicians responsible for healthcare in three Swedish counties. Method A study-specific questionnaire was sent to all 375 elected politicians in three counties; 192 (51%) responded. Results The politicians stated that they were knowledgeable about the Swedish abortion law. More than half did not consider themselves, in their capacity as politicians, sufficiently informed about abortion-related matters. Most politicians (72%) considered induced abortion to be primarily a womens rights issue rather than an ethical one, and 54% considered 12 weeks gestational age an adequate upper limit for induced abortion. Only about a third of the respondents were correctly informed about the number of induced abortions annually carried out in Sweden. Conclusion Information and knowledge on induced abortion among Swedish county politicians seem not to be optimal. Changes aimed at reducing the current high abortion rates will probably not be easy to achieve as politicians seem to be reluctant to commit themselves on ethical issues and consider induced abortion mainly a womens rights issue.

Objective. To compare obstetric outcomes for women with fear of childbirth who received counseling during pregnancy with women without fear of childbirth. Design. Descriptive, retrospective case-control study. Setting. University Hospital, Linkoping, Sweden. Sample. 353 women who were referred to a unit for psychosocial obstetrics and gynecology because of fear of childbirth constituted the index group and 579 women without fear of childbirth formed a reference group. Methods. Data were collected from standardized antenatal and delivery records. Main outcome measures. Delivery data. Results. Elective cesarean sections (CS) were more frequent in the index group (pandlt;0.001). Induction of delivery was also more common among the women with fear of childbirth (16.5 compared with 9.6%, pandlt;0.001). Women with fear of childbirth who were scheduled for vaginal delivery were more often delivered by emergency CS (p=0.007). Elective CS was more common among the parous women with fear of childbirth and instrumental delivery was more common among nulliparous women with fear of childbirth. There were no differences in complications during pregnancy, delivery or postpartum between the two groups. Conclusion. Fear of childbirth is a predisposing factor for emergency and elective CS even after psychological counseling. Maximal effort is necessary to avoid traumatizing deliveries and negative experiences, especially for nulliparous women.

To compare Swedish obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives attitudes and opinions on different aspects of cesarean section (CS). In total 330 midwives from the south east of Sweden and 1280 Swedish obstetricians/gynecologists were asked to answer a study-specific questionnaire anonymously about their opinions on different issues concerning CS. The majority of obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives had more than 10 years of experience in their professions (75.2% vs. 73.6%). The midwives thought that a reasonable CS rate would be 11.5% whereas the corresponding figures for the obstetricians/gynecologists was 13.8% (P andlt; 0.001). There are differences in opinions and attitudes concerning both CS rates and other aspects in connection with CS. There are evident differences in attitudes towards CS and mode of delivery between midwives and obstetricians/gynecologists. These need to be explored and discussed in relation to state-of-the-art knowledge and should become a part of the curriculum for both groups of professionals both in training as well as on a regular clinical basis.

Objective: To perform a cost comparison of a weight gain restriction programme for obese pregnant women with standard antenatal care, and to identify if there were differences in healthcare costs within the intervention group related to degree of gestational weight gain or degree of obesity at programme entry. Study design: A comparison of mean healthcare costs for participants of an intervention study at antenatal care clinics with controls in south-east Sweden. Methods: In total, 155 women in an intervention group attempted to restrict their gestational weight gain to less than7 kg. The control group comprised 193 women. Mean costs during pregnancy, delivery and the neonatal period were compared with the costs of standard care. Costs were converted from Swedish Kronor to Euros ((sic)). Results: Healthcare costs during pregnancy were lower in the intervention group. There was no significant difference in total healthcare costs (i.e. sum of costs during pregnancy, delivery and the neonatal period) between the intervention group and the control group. Within the intervention group, the subgroup that gained 4.5-9.5 kg had the lowest costs. The total cost, including intervention costs, was (sic)1283 more per woman/ infant in the intervention group compared with the control group (P = 0.025). The degree of obesity at programme entry had no bearing on the outcome. Conclusions: The weight gain restriction programme for obese pregnant women was effective in restricting gestational weight gain to less than7 kg, but had a higher total cost compared with standard antenatal care.

OBJECTIVES: Women aged 40-44 years in 2005 ought to have been subjected to much more influence on attitudes and knowledge on contraceptive methods during their fertile period than women who were in the same age span in 1975 when the abortion laws were introduced.

MATERIAL: From official statistics, the rates of induced abortion and birth rates in women aged 40-44 years were collected for Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland for each five-year during the period 1975-2005.

RESULTS: With the exception of Sweden all other studied Scandinavian countries have lowered their abortion rates since 1975 (p<0.001) and reduced the proportion of induced abortions in relation to birth rate (p<0.001). In 2005 these countries also had lower rates of induced abortion than Sweden in the age group 40-44 years (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: There is a significant change in rates of induced abortion in women aged 40-44 years in Finland, Norway, Denmark, and at status quo in Sweden. 40-44 years in Finland, Norway, Denmark, and at status quo in Sweden. This indicates that family planning programs works well in the Nordic countries. The differences found may be assumed to possible diverging focus on attitudes or ethical considerations.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a weight gain restriction program on weight development or weight maintenance two years after childbirth.

Methods: The intervention group consisted of 155 obese pregnant women who participated in a weight gain restriction program with weekly support duringpregnancy. The control group consisted of 193 obese pregnant women. Follow-up weight measurements were done at 12 and 24 months postpartum.

Results: The mean value of weight change in the intervention group was -2.2 kg compared to + 0.4 kg in the control group from early pregnancy to the follow-up 12 months after childbirth (p = .046). A greater percentage of women in the intervention group showed a weight loss 24 months after delivery than did women in the control group at that same time (p = .034). Women in the intervention group who gained less than 7 kg during pregnancy had a significantly lower weight than the controls at the 24 months follow-up (p = .018).

Conclusion: An intervention program with weekly motivational support visits during pregnancy and every 6 months after childbirth seems to have an impact on weight gain up to 24 months after childbirth for those women in the intervention group who succeeded in restricting their gestational weight gain to less than 7 kg.