A follow-up study of first trimester induced abortions at hospitals and family planning clinics in Sichuan province, China.

Four-thousand women aged 18-40 underwent an early induced abortion at hospitals and family planning clinics in six counties in Sichuan province, China, between 1 July 1990 and 30 June 1991. The subjects were followed-up three times, on days 15, 90 and 180 after the operation. Information was obtained about their age, parity, contraceptive use, social behaviors, and gynecological and psychological characteristics before and after the abortion. The results indicate that induced abortion is safe when provided by medically trained personnel in health facilities such as hospitals or clinics. Depressive symptomatology was assessed by the CES-D and SCL-90 scales. The depressive symptoms declined over time. A substantial proportion of the abortions were to unmarried women or resulted from non-use of contraception or contraceptive failure, implying that the incidence of unintended pregnancies and induced abortions could be reduced by more effective and accessible contraception.