Pregnancy termination at a viable stage in daily clinical practice: A nationwide mortality follow-back study in Flanders, Belgium.
Journal
Prenatal diagnosis
ISSN: 1097-0223
Titre abrégé: Prenat Diagn
Pays: England
ID NLM: 8106540
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 2023
06 2023
Historique:
revised:
11
04
2023
received:
27
01
2023
accepted:
14
04
2023
medline:
12
6
2023
pubmed:
20
4
2023
entrez:
20
04
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Congenital malformations are frequently diagnosed prenatally even at a viable stage. No adequate registration of incidence and characteristics of late termination of pregnancy (TOP) or abortion for medical reasons exists in Flanders. Nationwide mortality follow-back survey sent to physicians signing death certificates of all stillbirths for 22 weeks gestation onward (September 2016-December 2017) in Flanders, Belgium. Questions measured whether late TOP preceded stillbirth, and which clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were indicated. Questionnaire data were linked with sociodemographic information from death certificates. Response rate was 56% (203/366). 38% of stillbirths (77/203) concerned late TOP. In 88.3% of late TOPs, physicians classified congenital anomalies of the foetus as serious or very serious (incompatibility with life outside the womb or severe neurological or physical impairment). In 26% of cases, late TOP was first suggested by the physician rather than spontaneously requested by parents (73%). 88% of late TOPs were discussed in open team meetings. 2/5 stillbirths were preceded by late TOP, indicating severe underreportation by existing registrations and a dire need for adequate registration methods. Although late TOP was most often explicitly requested by parents, in ¼ cases termination was suggested first by physicians. Parents are sometimes hesitant to bring up late TOP themselves, indicating that TOP should always be counselled as an equivalent option.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
781-791Subventions
Organisme : Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent
ID : 01J06915
Organisme : Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
ID : G041716N
Informations de copyright
© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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