[Voluntary pregnancy termination during 1998 in a French general hospital]

The authors analyzed the etiology of voluntary abortions in a general hospital during one year. Age, family situation, nationality, children, previous abortions, type of contraception, and the reasons for aborting were reviewed. The goal is to determine the target population for effective prevention. Teenagers (7%), women under 35 years (78%), women with children (64%), primarily with two children (42%), women with poor use of contraception (pill or condom) (48%) and women without contraception (36%) were concerned. Social and cultural causes (unemployment, wedding difficulties, number of children, habitation) were often associated and different factors are described. Practitioners have little control over these sociocultural situations. A strong plan involving all the educational roles is necessary to modify this difficult situation.