Induced abortion: 1975 factbook

This report presents an overview of current international data on induced abortion, primarily from the demographic and public health points of view. Statistical tabulations make up the major part of the report, with the text providing background information. Opening sections review definitions, sources of data, and concepts of statistical analysis. Major topics for which data are presented include the legal status of abortion (Table 1); incidence of abortion (Tables 2-20); incidence of repeat abortions (Tables 21-23); period of gestation and abortion procedures (Tables 24-27); incidence of abortion with concurrent sterilization (Table 28); complications (Tables 29-31); and mortality (Table 32). The relationships between abortion and contraception (Tables 33-35) and the effects of changes in abortion policies on trends in the numbers of legal abortions, illegal abortions, total induced abortions, and births are evaluated in the final sections (Table 36). Two technical questions are discussed in the appendix (Tables 37-38).

Fertility rates and abortion rates: simulations of family limitation

A computerized model that simulates reproductive events during the childbearing years of a cohort of women is used to analyze the impact of contraception and induced abortion on fertility. Four different reproductive regimens are investigated: (2) contraception only, (2) abortion only, (3) abortion as a backstop to contraception, and (4) combinations of abortion and contraception. It is concluded that in historical as well as in modern populations, levels of fertility near replacement are unlikely to be obtained without the use of induced abortion.