Abortion statistics
Abortion is defined as foetal loss excluding stillbirths, usually during the first 20 weeks of gestation. Induced abortions are those initiated voluntarily with the intention of terminating a pregnancy. All other abortions are called spontaneous abortions, even if an external cause is involved, such as injury or high fever.
All abortion statistics and derived abortion rates included in this release are based on legally induced abortions registered in New Zealand. No information is available on spontaneous or illegal abortions.
Grounds for abortion
In New Zealand the grounds on which an abortion is permitted are described in the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977 and in section 187A of the Crimes Act 1961.
In any year, 98–99 percent of all abortions are performed because of serious danger to the mental health of the woman.
Source of abortion statistics
Abortion information is obtained from the Abortion Supervisory Committee. For every abortion carried out as approved under the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion Act 1977, a 'Notification of Abortion' form (ASC Form No. 4) must be filled in by the licensed abortion institution. This is then sent to the Abortion Supervisory Committee.
Changes in the collection of abortion statistics
Changes have been made in the collection of ethnicity data. Before 2006, the MELAA (Middle Eastern, Latin American and African) ethnic group was included in the 'Other' ethnic group. In 2006, statistics on the MELAA group have been produced separately. In addition, the ethnic response of 'New Zealander' was coded and included in the 'Other' ethnic group for the first time. In previous years, New Zealanders were included in the European ethnic group. Ethnicity data for 2006 is not strictly comparable with ethnicity data for earlier years.
In 2004, a new question asking for 'domicile code' was added to ASC Form No 4. However, due to different rates of 'not stated region' across hospitals, regional data should be interpreted with care. The New Zealand Health Information Service base their health domicile codes on the area unit pattern. They are used to represent a healthcare user's usual residential address. The code used from 1 July 2002 is based on the 2001 six-digit area unit code (as used in the Census of Population and Dwellings).
Live births
Live births refer to live births registered in New Zealand by date of registration.
Stillbirths
Stillbirth refers to the birth of a dead foetus that either weighs 400g or more when issued from its mother; or is issued from its mother after the 20th week of gestation.
Revised demographic indices
After each Census of Population and Dwellings, Statistics NZ routinely revises its intercensal population estimates based on the latest census usually resident population count. Statistics NZ has revised population estimates for the 2001–2006 intercensal period. The mean estimated resident population is used as the denominator for calculating various demographic rates, such as abortion rates.
All demographic rates for the 2001–2006 period have been revised based on 2006-base population estimates. The revised rates are not comparable with the 2001-based rates published in previous Hot off the Press releases.
Rounding
Abortion figures contained in the tables attached to this release are unrounded. All other figures have been rounded. Derived figures (for example, abortion rates and ratios) have been calculated using unrounded data.
More information
For more information, follow the link from the Technical notes of this release on the Statistics New Zealand website.
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