Mortality caused by abortion in the State of Paraná between 1998 and 2004

Abstract

 The complications caused by abortion demonstrate they are among the main causes of women's death and they also present a higher level of deficient access to informationThis paper analyzes the evolution of the women's deaths caused by abortion in the State of Paraná and in Maringá in the period between 1998 and 2004. This descriptive and retrospective study was accomplished with the collection of data from the registration of the maternal deaths with causes related to abortion in the State of Paraná and in Maringá. The deaths caused by abortion in Paraná in that period corresponded to 6,27% of the total maternal deaths and they occurred specially amongst women at the age group from 30 to 39 years old. The marital status was well distributed among single and married women. The white race prevailed with 76,47%. In Maringá, from the total of maternal deaths registered, two deaths were caused by abortion: single women with same school level, however in distinct age groups (18 and 42 years old). The evolution of the women's deaths caused by abortion in the period studied shows the need of an urgent preventive action within the women's health programs.

Key words: Abortion; Maternal mortality; Woman’s health.