Table 1

Characteristics at T1 of women participating in the study. Statistically significant differences between the two groups are shown.


Women with miscarriage, n = 40.
(Scored '1')
Women with induced abortion, n = 80.
(Scored '2')
Point biserial r/χ2

At T1 (10 days after the event)
Mean (95% CI)
Mean (95% CI)


Age (years)
30.1 (28.2–31.9)
27.7 (26.2–29.3)
r = -0.17, n.s.
Length of pregnancy (weeks)
10.5 (9.4–11.5)
9.6 (9.3–9.9)
r = -0.18, n.s.
Number of previous induced abortions
0.3 (0.1–0.5)
0.3 (0.2–0.4)
r = -0.02, n.s.
Number of previous miscarriages
0.4 (0.2–0.6)
0.4 (0.2–0.6)
r = 0.02, n.s.
Number of children
0.8 (0.5–1.0)
1.2 (0.9–1.4)
r = 0.19*
Marital status


χ2 = 15.38***
Married
42.5%
21.3%

Cohabitant
50.0%
37.5%

Not married/cohabitant
7.5%
41.3%

Education


χ2 = 5.42, n.s..
Comprehensive school up to 16 years of age
10.0%
15.0%

Comprehensive school up to 19 years of age
15.0%
31.3%

Vocational education
47.5%
31.3%

University education
27.5%
22.5%

Vocational activity


χ2 = 10.34*
Still in education
2.5%
21.3%

Regular employment
75.0%
50.0%

Temporary employment
5.0%
11.3%

Working at home
10.0%
8.8%

Other
7.5%
8.8%

Religious faith


χ2 = 5.05, n.s.
Christian, the faith is of minor importance
80.0%
71.3%

Christian, the faith is of great importance
12.5%
6.3%

Agnostic or humanistic ethicist
5.0%
17.5%

Muslim or other
2.5%
5.0%

Former psychiatric health


χ2 = 3.63, n.s.
Good
65.0%
47.5%

Medium
15.0%
17.5%

Previous psychiatric problems
20.0%
35.0%


χ2 (Pearson's χ2) = for pregnancy termination group by nominal variable

r (Pearson's r, t-test) = for pregnancy termination type by continuous variables

*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.

Broen et al. BMC Medicine 2005 3:18   doi:10.1186/1741-7015-3-18