ARRESTED PREGNANCY SYNDROME IN HAITI - FINDINGS FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY

This report describes findings from a national survey of pregnant wome n in Haiti regarding the social epidemiology of pedisyon (perdition), or ''arrested pregnancy syndrome,'' a condition believed to be associa ted with infertility. Data collected on mortality of respondents' sist ers were used to indirectly measure the prevalence of this culture-bou nd syndrome in the adult female population and to compare its distribu tion in urban and rural areas. Perdition appears to be a fairly common event that affects a large proportion of Haitian women. Reported case s of pedisyon were significantly higher in urban areas, which also dif fered from rural areas on respondent education, economic status, use o f prenatal care, and fertility. No differences were found on sociodemo graphic, health, or fertility variables when women reporting perdition deaths were compared with women who reported other sister deaths. The utility and limitations of the proxy respondent method are discussed. Possible explanations for the higher rate of pedisyon among urban Hai tian women are discussed, and suggestions are made for future research on arrested pregnancy syndrome.