El aborto como problema de Salud Pública en Chile

Abstract

The issue of induced abortion as a Public Health problem has been discussed in the past in the country with the participation of different types of organizations. In 1983, two Departments from the “Colegio Médico de Chile A.G.” sponsored the present study focussed on a statistical analysis of the past 20 years (1964 - 1983). During the 1960s, two relevant facts appeared: a group of epidemiological studies on illegal, induced abortion and the design of a comprehensive program of assistance of the human reproductive process in the context of the services of the Health System. The information revealed valuable, general conclusions:
- Population of women in fertil ages (15 - 44) increased during the studied period in 49,8% while hospital admissions due to abortion decreased in 40,7%. As a consequence a number of hospital beds could be used to assist high risk pregnancies, complicated abortions and gynecological morbidity related to the reproductive functions.
- A significant increase in the rate of active users of contraceptive methods is observed from the studied period, reaching a figure higher than 20% of women in gestational age.
- Analyzing maternal mortality, 360 patient died of complicated abortion in 1964 and only 41 in 1983. This represents a ratio of 100/12,7 confirming that maternal mortality due to abortion is a preventable death.