[Socio-demographic characteristics of females who had undergone induced abortion in a public hospital in Bucaramanga]. / Características socio demográficas de las mujeres con abortos inducidos en un Hospital Público de Bucaramanga.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the socio-demographic characteristics of females who admitted to having previously undergone induced abortion who were attended at Hospital Local del Norte in Bucaramanga from the viewpoint of distributive justice. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of patients who consulted the Hospital Local del Norte's Emergency Gynaecology-Obstetrics Service in Bucaramanga between March 1/2008 and February 28/2009 who had a diagnosis of abortion in any of their presentations. RESULTS: The sample involved 93 patients, 16 of whom accepted that they had undergone an induced abortion. Factors associated with the event were belonging to a low socioeconomic stratum, lacking adequate health care and education in family planning, lack of a stable partner or that their relationship was dysfunctional and that the couple had pressured for an induced abortion for economic reasons or that their desire for parenting had already been satisfied. Contrasting these results with existing health legislation bioethics from a social justice in health viewpoint revealed that current legislation is deficient in both its coverage and extension to educational activity regarding sexual and reproductive health. CONCLUSIONS: Enabling patients to enjoy their sexuality responsibly and improving opportunities for access to better economic options may reduce induced abortions in the population living in Bucaramanga's northern commune.