Abortion in India, with Particular Reference to West Bengal.

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]