Is wide availability of abortion essential to national population growth control programs? Experiences of 116...

No nation wanting to reduce its growth rate to less than or equal to 1% can expect to do so without the widespread use of abortion. This study, based on the experience of 116 of the world's largest countries, supports the contention that abortion is essential to any national population growth control effort. Existing circumstances in developed countries have facilitated reduction of growth rates to less than 1%, with abortion rates generally in the range of 200 to 500 per 1000 live births. However, developing countries are faced with a different and more difficult set of circumstances that require even greater reliance on abortion. These obstacles include a young population with resultant rapidly growing numbers of young fertile women, poor contraceptive use-effectiveness, low prevalence of contraception, and poor or nonexistent systems for providing contraceptives. By virtue of their profession, physicians play a critical role in family planning and carry a special responsibility in ensuring that abortion services are available to all women who need them.