The study aimed to describe the characteristics of abortion of women in a public hospital in the state of Espírito Santo. It is a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 21 women who had induced abortion, and 62 who declared miscarriage, hospitalized in the period between August 2005 and January 2006. A form was used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS, version 14.0. In both kinds of abortion, most women (85.5%) had not planned to become pregnant and the predominant gestational age was 10 weeks and less. A greater percentage of women from the induced abortion group were advised to abort (47.6%), had bleedings (28.6%) and signs of infection (19.1%) at admission and needed antibiotic therapy (19.1%). The method chosen to abort was Misoprostol (76.2%). The concepto's father was more participative in the decision of abortion than the family. The main reasons for induced abortion were the lack of good financial situation (29.4%), lack of father support (20.6%), and non-stable marital status (17.7%). The authors conclude it is necessary to increase the possibility of planning pregnancy and valuing Family Planning as an indispensable component for the global process of the Country's social and economic development.
Reproductive health; Family planning
