Observations on the Results of Pregnancies in Women Resident in Belfast

Abstract

The outline data concerning the 1127 abortions identified in 1110 Belfast resident women in 1957 are set out in Table 1. Summary Data are presented of 1110 women who had 1127 post 4‐week abortions which occurred in Belfast in 1957. These are believed to represent a high proportion of all such abortions which occurred in the city, but the frequency of 11.8 per 1000 pregnancies must be minimal. It is suggested that the true figure lies between this figure and 16 %. There is no evidence to suggest that more than a small fraction of abortions, say 1 %, are criminally induced. Data are also presented relating to 983 women who had 1002 consecutively admitted abortions in two hospitals (X and Y). This series was studied in more detail as more complete data were available. Aetiological factors are discussed.

Major malformations of the central nervous system in Hungary.

“…An appreciable number of anencephalics weighed less than 1,000g. These findings are in agreement with those of Stevenson, Dudgeon and McClure (1959) and Nishimura, Takano, Tanimura, Yasuda and Uchida (1966), who found the frequency of neural tube defects much higher among miscarried foetuses than in the newborn. There is some relationship between birth weight and the frequency of still birth ( Figure 2b); for neural tube defects of birth weight less than 3,000g.…”

“…The incidence of CNS malformations in Budapest (3 71 per 1,000) was rather higher than the average of a number of countries reported by Stevenson, Johnston, Stewart, and Golding (1966). This was mainly due to the relatively high incidence of spina bifida.…”

Incidence of congenital malformations in the regions of England and Wales.

“…The incidence rate per 1,000 live and stillbirths found in this South Wales survey for anencephaly, spina bifida and hydrocephalus malformations was 8-1, similar to that found in Liverpool (74) by Smithells (1962) and in Belfast (8-3) by Stevenson and Warnock (1959). Lower incidence rates had been found in population surveys elsewhere.…”

Natural History of Spina Bifida Cystica and Cranium Bifidum Cysticum: Major Central Nervous System Malformations in South Wales, Part IV

“…The total number of cases of major central nervous system malformations was 835 (incidence 8-12 per 1000 births). This is the highest incidence of spina bifida cystica and cranium bifidum cysticum so far reported for a population study, and nearly the highest for total central nervous system malformations, being exceeded only by Belfast (Stevenson and Warnock, 1959).…”