Problems of abortion in Britain - Aberdeen, a case study

Summary This paper reports on nearly all pregnancies occurring in the City of Aberdeen in the years 1961-74 (births, and therapeutic and spontaneous abortions) and on male and female sterilization and the use of contraception. The collection of these data for a defined community was made possible through the coordinated and comprehensive maternity and contraceptive services. Several important innovations made during the years included the introduction of oral contraception and the inter-uterine device, laparoscopic sterilization and vasectomy. The Abortion Act 1969 came into force and at different times the Local Authority Family Planning Clinic made many changes including the removal of charges and of the need for referral. The pattern of outcome differs for legitimate and illegitimate pregnancies, which are considered separately. Over half of all first pregnancies now occur before marriage and their outcome in women in different occupational groups is discussed. Oral contraception is favoured for postponing or spacing pregnancies, but when it comes to limitation of family size, couples have increasingly requested sterilization. Nevertheless there has been a ten-fold increase in the proportion of pregnancies being terminated. Aberdeen's birth rate is now below replacement level but the real objective 'every pregnancy a wanted pregnancy' is far from being achieved in either married or unmarried women.