SMALL-AREA ANALYSIS - ABORTION STATISTICS

Small area analysis has developed over the last two or three decades a s a useful tool in health services research, as it allows the identifi cation of areas within health or local authority districts with high r ates of morbidity and mortality, and thus provides a useful base for p lanning the delivery of health services. A profile was compiled for Li verpool Family Health Services Authority on planned parenthood in the Liverpool District, with the aim of identifying where resources are ne eded most - which parts of the City, and which groups of women, are mo st in need. The profile included an analysis of various outcome measur es, including abortion statistics, which can be used as a guide to the apparent effectiveness of services. Using a combination of statistics on NHS abortions for electoral wards, and private abortions by postal district, it became apparent that, on the whole, areas of high NHS in duced abortion rates also have high private (British Pregnancy Advisor y Service; BPAS) induced abortion rates, and vice versa. The maps for NHS and BPAS abortion rates suggest that total abortion rates are high in City centre wards, and low in areas south of the City. This would suggest that there are differences in social factors, family planning provision, and other factors which are influencing abortion rates. Alt hough available indicators would suggest that City centre wards are in greatest need of improved family planning provision, these are the wa rds which are relatively well provided with health authority family pl anning clinics. Local surveys would therefore be useful in an attempt to estimate the influence of the various factors which lead to high in duced abortion rates, and to indicate consumer opinions on family plan ning provision and how it should develop.