Abstract : In order to inform the abortion debate with an increased understanding of why so many women worldwide undergo induced abortions and how societies can respond, this report offers the most reliable facts available about the determinants, levels, and consequences of induced abortion in many parts of the world. When considering abortion as a response to unplanned pregnancy, the report reviews: 1) what factors lead to unplanned pregnancy in developing and developed countries, 2) the prevalence of unplanned pregnancy, and 3) why women decide upon abortion. Data in this report focus on 15 developing and three developed countries. In its review of the status of induced abortion, the report looks at: 1) laws and regulations in countries with a population of a million or more; 2) the annual number of induced abortions, the proportions of women having abortions, and the characteristics of these women; 3) the relationship between legality and safety of abortion; 4) the quality and availability of abortion services in settings where it is legal; 5) the quality and availability of abortion services where it is severely restricted or prohibited; 6) the kinds of abortion practitioners and methods used to abort or self-abort in developing countries; and 7) the safety of modern abortion techniques and risks of abortions performed outside of medical settings. Finally, the report discusses what can be done to reduce levels of unplanned pregnancy and lessen the adverse effects of unsafe abortion. Additional data are provided in six appended tables.
Web site : http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/sharing.pdf