Repeat induced abortion: A multicenter study on medical abortions in France in 2014

Objectives. - To describe the social characteristics of women seeking a medical abortion, and the conditions of that abortion, according to whether they had one or more previous induced abortions. Methods. - An observational study was carried out in 11 French units in 2013-2014, among women 18 years or older. A self-administered questionnaire on the abortion context and social situation was given to them, as well as a diary to record the pain level for each of five days following the mifepristone intake. The sample included 453 women. Results. - Among the respondents, 22% had had one previous abortion and 8% had had two or more. Women having had a previous voluntary abortion were more often isolated and in a poorer social situation than women having their first abortion. Conclusion. - Better support for contraception after abortion could reduce the number of repeated abortions. (C) 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.