[Induced abortion in figures: analysis of the dissemination of statistics in the press]

The use of secondary sources of information such as the newspaper is necessary in order to do research on the degree of diffusion of public health issues. The problem of abortion in México has been scarcely studied due to several factors mentioned in this paper. Content analysis of articles published in the newspapers is a strategy that allows the study of the role of public opinion on this socio-political and health problem. A research based on content analysis was carried out in 771 newspaper articles on abortion found in seven national newspapers from 1974 to 1982. The results show a great inconsistency in the statistics on the numbers of abortions and the number of maternal deaths due to this cause. On the other hand, the information published on the characteristics of the women that have had an abortion in Mexico was found to be congruent. These elements point to the fact that the health sector has to produce and publish reliable statistics on abortion.