Factors responsible for delay in obtaining interruption of pregnancy.

Abstract

A sample of 132 women undergoing early abortion by suction curettage or late abortion (after the twelfth week of gestation) by intrauterine saline instillation at the Hospital of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine between January 1 and March 31, 1971, were interviewed to explore why there are so many late abortions. Women having late abortions tended to be younger (mean age 22.2 compared to mean age 26.6 for women having early abortions) single and nulliparous and were less likely to use contraception than women seeking early abortions (only 26% under age 25 had used contraception compared to 71% of the same age group who had early abortions). The majority (55%) of the patients delayed abortions for personal reasons, but 26% of the abortions were delayed because of reasons related to the medical care system. Women from outside of New York experienced greater difficulty in obtaining abortions than residents as evidenced by the fact that almost 1/2 of the nonresidents had decided on abortion before the twelfth week and still had late abortions. In both the early and late groups nearly 14% had to wait longer than necessary to obtain abortions. The study suggests that both physicians and patients be made aware of the advantages of early abortion. Over 40% of the women in the study had never used contraception, a result which stresses the need for health education and counseling with emphasis on contraception, particularly among the inexperienced and younger women. Until a major shift is seen from late to early abortion however, saline abortions must be provided safely and with consideration for the woman.