The author presents research results of provoke abortion among 300 pregnant women addmited at the Obstetrical Emergency Unit of the Maternal Aid Service of the city of São Paulo, follow up from 1970 to 1973.
Data collected showed following results:
— all pregnant women belonged to the same social-economical level and 95% (285) were maid-servants;
— 20% (60) were illeterate, 50% (150) had incomplete elementary education and 23,3% (70) had complete elementary education;
— 66,7% (200) point out in their first interview, as main cause of their abortion "accidental foil", 23,3% (70) attributed theirs to a "frightening condition";
— the 300 pregnant women were repetedly inter viewed, de clared at the end, that they really did provoke abortion;
— among the most common processes used by them was the rubber catheter, utilized by 69,3% (208);
— the main responsibles for inducing abortion mentioned were the lay woman, who performed as midwife, 67,0% (201) and the subject herself, 22,7% (68);
— among the motives that lead these women to provoke abortion the following were considered relevant; the psycho-socials, totalizing 62,3% (187) and the economical, totalizing 31,0% (93);
— the main physical consequances presented among the population were: moduate and severe infections in 55,0% (165) of women and bleeding shock in 12% (36);
— emotional reactions presented as a consequences of abortion were "feellings" of: a) "repentence and remorse" expressed by 41,7% (125) of women; b) "self-reprobation" in 27-7% (83) individuals; c) "religions guilt" in 26,3% (79) of the population.