[Induced abortion in a Swiss canton from 1990 to 1993: implications for epidemiological surveillance].
BACKGROUND
To describe abortion utilization in the Canton of Vaud (Switzerland) and to identify desirable changes in the data collection system to improve the epidemiologic monitoring


METHODS
Retrospective survey of the 5600 abortion requests to the Canton Health Authority for resident women between 1990 and 1993.


RESULTS
Nine women out of 1000 residents requested an abortion, but the abortion rate was higher among women of foreign origin compared to Swiss women (17/1000 vs. 6/1000, p < 0.0001). The proportion of terminated recognized conceptions was 127/1000, and the ratio of IVG to livebirths was 0.18. The abortion rate was lower during adolescence (6/1000) or after 40 years of age (1.8/1000), whereas the proportion of terminated conceptions was highest at these ages (527/1000 and 312/1000). Abortion utilization in Canton of Vaud is among the lowest.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these indicators do reflect a satisfactory accessibility and use of family planning services, improvements could be made. A better knowledge of the causes (motives, contraceptive method, reproductive history) and of the consequences of abortion (psycho-social implications, medical complications) would allow to design more focused prevention strategies and to fit health services to current needs. Updating the 1942 Swiss legislation is also desirable.
Addor
V
V
Institut Universitaire de Médecine Sociale et Préventive de Lausanne.
Ferron
C
C
Narring
F
F
Michaud
P A
PA
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate / Q000639:trends; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Interruptions de grossesse dans un canton suisse de 1990 à 1993: implications pour la surveillance épidémiologique.