Applications for abortion at a community hospital

Applications for therapeutic abortion over a 44-week period in a 647-bed community hospital are reviewed with reference to age, marital status, gestational age, parity, contraceptive use and reasons for application for abortion.The largest age group consisted of those 20 to 29 years old; it accounted for more than twice as many applicants as any other decade. Fifty-four percent were single; married women or those living in stable common-law relationships accounted for 31.7%. Gestational age at application was 8 weeks or less in 68.3%. Those presenting late (i.e. after 14 weeks) were mostly in the younger age groups. No contraceptive measures were being employed at the time of conception by 69.7%. Less than one sixth of the patients were applying because of severely adverse social, psychological or medical reasons.