A review of therapeutic abortions and related areas of concern in Canada.

Authors: Sabourin JN,Burnett M,
Address: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Journal: J Obstet Gynaecol Can.

Publication: 2012 Jun;34(6):532-42.

abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To review the legal status of abortion and its prevalence, safety, and accessibility in Canada and to highlight related areas of concern.

METHODS:

We conducted a review of research literature, published reports, websites, and articles in order to describe abortion services and associated issues such as access, availability, and safety in Canada.

RESULTS:

therapeutic abortion is often the result of unintended pregnancy. Even so, emergency contraception may not be accessible for all Canadian women, and effective contraception is underutilized. In Canada, abortion has been decriminalized and is generally safe, but current reports of prevalence and complication rates are inconsistent. Abortion rates appear to be decreasing. Medical or surgical termination of pregnancy is available and often publicly funded. However, barriers related to time, cost, travel, and regional disparities hamper unrestricted access to therapeutic abortion in this country, and although the place of abortion in medical education remains controversial, current curriculum content appears to be inadequate.

CONCLUSIONS:

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada states that comprehensive family planning services, including therapeutic abortion, should be freely available to all. The Canadian Medical Association affirms that induced abortion should be uniformly available to all women. In Canada, the issues related to therapeutic abortion access, availability, and safety must be addressed.

Related Articles
Abortion in Europe, 1920-91: a public health perspective.
Stud Fam Plann. 1992
Abortion in Europe, 1920-91: a public health perspective.
David HP. Stud Fam Plann. 1992 Jan-Feb; 23(1):1-22.
Impact of publicly funded contraceptive services on unintended pregnancies and implications for Medicaid expenditures.
Fam Plann Perspect. 1996
Impact of publicly funded contraceptive services on unintended pregnancies and implications for Medicaid expenditures.
Forrest JD, Samara R. Fam Plann Perspect. 1996 Sep-Oct; 28(5):188-95.
Review Contraception and induced abortion in the West Indies: a review.
West Indian Med J. 2011
Review Contraception and induced abortion in the West Indies: a review.
Boersma AA, de Bruijn JG. West Indian Med J. 2011 Oct; 60(5):564-70.
Choice at any cost.
World Watch. 1988
Choice at any cost.
Jacobson JL. World Watch. 1988 Mar-Apr; 1(2):30-8.
Review Abortion and fertility regulation.
Lancet. 1996
Review Abortion and fertility regulation.
Kulczycki A, Potts M, Rosenfield A. Lancet. 1996 Jun 15; 347(9016):1663-8.

To top • Home

TraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

The contents within traveldoctoronline are presented only for informational purposes and cannot substitute for professional health care or any other medical treatment.All users of this website with health problems should be oblige always to consult their medical doctor before starting any treatment.