Social awareness on Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy : a cross-section study

The objective of this research is to assess the social awareness of Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy (VTP) in order to develop adequate information and training programmes. An observational study was carried out on a sample of individuals aged between 14 and 68. In social-aggregation areas 800 questionnaires were distributed, prior to the assurance of anonymity. 90.5% of the individuals asked to participate, answered the questionnaire. 21.2% of the sample was not aware of the existence of guidance centre in the Local Health Authorities and 25.7% of the Law that regulates VTP.

Less than half of the interviewees (42.3%) considered VTP as an admissible choice in special circumstances, 11% consider it as a means of prevention of unwanted pregnancy and 55.35% do not know that a minor can have an abortion without the consent of her parents. 41.7% of the women interviewed would resort to VTP, while 12.2% have already resorted to it. The inclination to perform VTP has been drastically associated mainly with not being in a stable relationship, age, or being an atheist. [Publisher's Text].