Characteristics of New Zealand women seeking abortion in Melbourne, Australia

In a 24-month period 145 New Zealand women sought abortion in a Melbourne practice, comprising 10 percent of such patients seen. Some 4000 New Zealanders are estimated to fly into Australia annually because of less restrictive abortion laws in some Australian states. The age range in this sample of 145 was from 14-43 years with the mean average age at 21.4 years. Only 24 (16.5 percent) had ever been married and 111 (76.5 percent) were pregnant for the first time. Almost half, 63 (43.5 percent), had never used any contraception in the past. Of the 142 patients aborted, 71 (50 percent) were at least 11 weeks pregnant, four being 14 weeks. Obstacles along the route to abortion, personal, medical and those due to international airline schedules contributed to delaying the date of the operation. The operative procedure was evacuation curettage performed in a private hospital under general anaesthesia. Patients received contraceptive education and returned to their local New Zealand doctor for follow-up.