Members of Knowledge Synthesis Group of Determinants of LBW/preterm births are listed in the ‡.
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Systematic review
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Induced termination of pregnancy and low birthweight and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analyses
Article first published online: 16 SEP 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02278.x
© 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © RCOG 2009 BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Issue
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 116, Issue 11, pages 1425–1442, October 2009
Additional Information
How to Cite
Shah, P., Zao, J. and on behalf of Knowledge Synthesis Group of Determinants of preterm/LBW births (2009), Induced termination of pregnancy and low birthweight and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analyses. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 116: 1425–1442. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02278.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 SEP 2009
- Article first published online: 16 SEP 2009
- Accepted 19 May 2009.
Keywords:
- Birth outcomes;
- infant-low birthweight;
- infant-premature;
- therapeutic termination of pregnancy
Background History of induced termination of pregnancy (I-TOP) is suggested as a precursor for infant being born low birthweight (LBW), preterm (PT) or small for gestational age (SGA). Infection, mechanical trauma to the cervix leading to cervical incompetence and scarred tissue following curettage are suspected mechanisms.
Objective To systematically review the risk of an infant being born LBW/PT/SGA among women with history of I-TOP.
Search strategy Medline, Embase, CINAHL and bibliographies of identified articles were searched for English language studies.
Selection criteria Studies reporting birth outcomes to mothers with or without history of induced abortion were included.
Data collection and analyses Two reviewers independently collected data and assessed the quality of the studies for biases in sample selection, exposure assessment, confounder adjustment, analytical, outcome assessments and attrition. Meta-analyses were performed using random effect model and odds ratio (OR), weighted mean difference and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.
Main results Thirty-seven studies of low–moderate risk of bias were included. A history of one I-TOP was associated with increased unadjusted odds of LBW (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.20–1.52) and PT (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.24–1.50), but not SGA (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.69–1.09). A history of more than one I-TOP was associated with LBW (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.45–2.04) and PT (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.28–2.71). Meta-analyses of adjusted risk estimates confirmed these findings.
Conclusions A previous I-TOP is associated with a significantly increased risk of LBW and PT but not SGA. The risk increased as the number of I-TOP increased.