In Brazil, induced abortion is legally allowed only when necessary to save the woman's life or when pregnancy follows rape. Despite this legal constraint, induced abortion is widespread. This study presents findings from 620 cases of incomplete abortion admitted to a major obstetric hospital in Florianópolis, Brazil, between July 1, 1993, and June 30, 1994. Almost one quarter (141) of the abortion cases were induced. About 50% of the latter patients reported having induced abortion with misoprostol alone or with other methods. Most of the women with induced abortions were young and single (or living without a stable partner), had primary schooling, and were not using any contraceptive method at the time of conception. Among the women who were hospitalized for complications of induced abortion, the clinical characteristics suggest less severe complications than reported in previous studies. Recommendations are made as to the need for confirmatory studies, information regarding cultural perceptions and concepts of abortion, and reasons why low-income women fail to adopt available family planning methods.
Epidemiology; Women's Health; Abortion; Reproductive Health; Family Planning
