The sexual and reproductive health act and its impact on voluntary termination of pregnancy procedures in Spain
Section: Originales
How to quote
Martínez García E, Pozo Cano MD, Ávila Cuadros E, González Jiménez E. La Ley de Salud Sexual y Reproductiva y su influencia en las interrupciones voluntarias del embarazo en España. Matronas hoy 2013; 1(1):23-32.
Authors
1Encarnación Martínez García, 1Mª Dolores Pozo Cano, 2Elena Ávila Cuadros, 3Emilio González Jiménez
Position
1Matronas, profesoras de la Unidad Docente de Matronas de Granada. Departamento de Enfermería. Universidad de Granada. 2
Contact email: emartinez@ugr.es
Abstract
Objective: To assess whether the passing of the Spanish Ley Orgánica 2/2010 de Salud Sexual y Reproductiva y de la Interrupción Voluntaria del Embarazo (IVE) (sexual and reproductive health and voluntary termination of pregnancy [VTOP] act) on March 3rd 2010 has resulted in increased VTOP rates, and to clarify the causes for such a decision by women.
Materials and methods: The last three formal reports on VTOP by the Spanish Ministry of Health have been reviewed, and main changes from 2000 to 2010 have been analyzed in the following variables: VTOP rate per 1,000 women, age, marital status, education level, country of birth, previous abortions, gestational age at VTOP and reported reason for termination.
Results: In 2010, the most recent year with official data available, Spanish VTOP rate per 1,000 women was 11.49, which is slightly higher than previous year rate (11.41). Highest rates were found in 20-24 years-old women, although an overall reduction has been observed in women younger than 25 and and increase has been found in women older than 25. The typical profile for a woman terminating her pregnancy in Spain was a Spanish, unmarried woman having achieved first half of secondary education level, 8-week or lower gestational age, and no previous abortions; such a profile has not changed through the reported years. However, rates among foreign women are more than three-fold the rates observer for Spanish women (28‰ vs 8‰). Since July 4th 2010, 88.8% of women reported just their wish as a reason for termination, with a significant reduction, from 97% to 8% being found in maternal health reasons, whereas fetal risk reasons have been reported a similar rate after the passing of the law.
Conclusion, The present review demonstrates that, in spite of recent efforts to show the current situation in Spain on this issue, a number of gaps remain that should be bridged through improved recording systems and studies that are more rigorous from a methodological and epidemiological point of view.
Keywords:
abortion; review; Sexual and reproductive health law; voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTOP)
Versión en Español
Título:
Artículo completo no disponible en este idioma / Full article is not available in this language
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