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. 1994 Dec;22(60):255-68.

[Induced abortion as a cause of maternal mortality in Latin America]

[Article in Spanish]
T Frejka, L C Atkin
  • PMID: 12290229

[Induced abortion as a cause of maternal mortality in Latin America]

[Article in Spanish]
T Frejka et al. Notas Poblacion. 1994 Dec.

Abstract

PIP: Due to the restrictive abortion legislation which operates in almost all Latin American countries, knowledge about the incidence of induced abortions, their associated complications and related mortality is unreliable and approximate. There is little doubt, however, that the incidence of induced abortion in Latin America is among the highest in the world. The number of deaths due to complications from unsafe abortions is severely underestimated throughout the region. Based on Royston's method called the "maternal mortality route", the authors estimate that the actual number of abortion-related deaths in Latin America is between 5000 and 10,000 per year. Thus, compared to the estimated 4-6 million annual induced abortions, the abortion-related mortality rate would range from 83 to 250 deaths per 100,000 abortions. It is clear from the calculations presented that induced abortion in Latin America is a serious public health problem associated with deaths and health complications which could largely be avoided through the provision of accessible and appropriate family planning methods and the availability of high-quality abortion services. (author's)

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