Why has the number of abortions not declined in France over the past 30 years?
Nathalie Bajos, Caroline Moreau, Henri Leridon, Michèle Ferrand
Population and societies
N°407, décembre 2004, n° ISSN 0184 77 83
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Abstract (click on +)
Abortion is a final resort after contraception has failed. When the Veil Act legalizing abortion in France was passed 30 years ago, the frequency of abortion was expected to decrease as modern contraception methods spread. Though the number of unplanned pregnancies has gone down, the number of abortions has not. As Nathalie Bajos and her colleagues explain, women with unplanned pregnancies more frequently resort to elective abortion.
Contents (click on +)
Why has the number of abortions not declined in France over the past 30 years?
- A paradox: contraception has spread, but the number of abortions has not fallen
- Greater frequency of abortion in cases of unplanned pregnancy
- At-risk women or abortion-risk situations?
- A decision that takes account of the emotional and material context -
- A health care system that offers far from satisfactory service
