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Induced abortion has a long history in India. It occurs in village society, although the rate is relatively low. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of women having legal abortions are presented for a national, a West Bengal state, and a West Bengal local sample. A series of illegal abortions (1969) prior to the legalization of abortion in West Bengal is compared with more recent experience (1977–78) of legal abortion.Clinical facilities for meeting the demand for abortion are still inadequate. Reasons are given for predicting that the demand for legal abortion will continue to rise. Currently only 6% of legal abortions are by vacuum aspiration and nearly one-quarter by hysterotomy and hysterectomy. Greater provision needs to be made for the safer early abortions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper offers cross tabulations between parameters on family planning and other health practices. The findings indicate that people who act positively with respect to health practices are similarly motivated in family planning. This point lends support to the policy of integrating family planning services with health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]