Induced abortion: a four-year experience at a University Gynaecological Clinic in Greece

The aim of this study was to estimate the percentage of women who asked for pregnancy termination as an alternative to using family planning. The reasons given for requesting termination were documented and evaluated. During a 4-year period, 663 women came to the Family Planning Department. Four hundred and ninety-one (77.6%) were pregnant, in the first trimester of pregnancy and requesting an induced abortion. Consultation and counselling resulted in a 25% decrease in the number who finally had their pregnancies terminated. The low socio-economic status of most of the women and the negative attitude of our society towards an unmarried mother remain the main reasons for a high rate of therapeutic abortion.