A survey of women seeking termination of pregnancy in New South Wales.
OBJECTIVE
To identify characteristics of women seeking termination of pregnancy, their reasons for having a termination, and whether they intended to submit a Medicare claim for the procedure.


METHODS
Survey by self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
All women who attended 11 private clinics in New South Wales (NSW) over a six-week period in 1992.


RESULTS
2249 completed questionnaires were received (94% response rate). Terminations were frequent at all ages, but women in their 20s accounted for more than half the terminations (54%) and teenagers accounted for only 17%. Respondents were generally well educated and from various ethnic and religious backgrounds; 56% were single and 41% had had one or more previous terminations. Fifteen per cent of respondents could not or did not intend to make a Medicare claim. The most frequently cited factors contributing to the decision to seek a termination were concerns about finances, change in lifestyle, single parenthood and being too young.


CONCLUSIONS
Private clinics, where most terminations are performed, clearly meet a major demand, but it is likely that terminations in NSW as recorded by Health Insurance Commission claims are under-reported by at least 15%.
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D009517:New South Wales; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors