Induced abortion and sterilization among women who became mothers as adolescents

Four cohorts of urban women who delivered a child before reaching age 18 were followed for periods ranging from 6 to 12 years to determine use of abortion and sterilization. The two more recent cohorts had been served by comprehensive service programs. About 40 per cent of each of teh groups used abortion or sterilization to control fertility. Most of the women seeking abortion had no subsequent term or near term deliveries, suggesting that such a request may signal a desire to terminate childbearing, at least for a few years. A high proportion of the young mothers obtained abortions during the second trimister, even for repeat abortion.