To the Editor: A further reason for the differences in antenatal Down syndrome screening rates between urban and rural women, reported by Coory and colleagues,1 is likely to be the relative difficulties many Queensland women face in accessing abortion services. We are aware of several Queensland public hospitals that provide excellent antenatal screening services — testing for chromosomal abnormalities as well as providing the 18–20-week ultrasound scan for structural abnormalities. However, these hospitals do not offer subsequent counselling or abortion for women who make the difficult decision to terminate a pregnancy at this gestation, instead directing them to the private system. Some of these women are undoubtedly among the many Queensland women who travel interstate for abortions each year.2-5
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- 1 James Cook University, Cairns, QLD.
- 2 Children by Choice, Brisbane, QLD.
- 1. Coory M, Roselli T, Carroll H. Antenatal care implications of population-based trends in Down syndrome birth rates by rurality and antenatal care provider, Queensland, 1990–2004. Med J Aust 2007; 186: 230-234. <MJA full text>
- 2. Nickson C, Smith AM, Shelley JM. Travel undertaken by women accessing private Victorian pregnancy termination services. Aust N Z J Public Health 2006; 30: 329-333.
- 3. Chan A, Sage LC. Estimating Australia’s abortion rates 1985–2003. Med J Aust 2005; 182: 447-452. <MJA full text>
- 4. Nickson C, Smith AM, Shelley JM. Intention to claim a Medicare rebate among women receiving private Victorian pregnancy termination services. Aust N Z J Public Health 2004; 28: 120-123.
- 5. Adelson PL, Frommer MS, Weisberg E. A survey of women seeking termination of pregnancy in New South Wales. Med J Aust 1995; 163: 419-422.