ABSTRACT
This is a retrospective study carried out in the postpartum unit of Medical College and SSG Hospital, Baroda, Gujarat with an aim to assess the changes in the practices of medical termination of pregnancy over the last 20 years. Randomisation was achieved by selecting every tenth year from 1983 as a study year. Chi-square test was used as the test of significance. There was a rise in the total number of medical termination of pregnancies performed in the postpartum unit from 1983 to 1993 and then to 2003 (498 to 965 and then to 1054 respectively). Majority of the beneficiaries in all the 3 study years belonged to the urban population in the age group of 21-30 years with two living children. Number of unmarried beneficiaries were on rise but the difference was not statistically significant (1.6% to 1.8% and then to 2.8% respectively). There was a positive trend of coming for medical termination at earlier weeks and significant decline in the number of second trimester medical termination of pregnancies (57.0% to 13.3% and then to 13.4% respectively). There was a significant increase in the beneficiaries opting for temporary methods of contraception from 1983 to 1993 (48.6% to 55.6%). Copper-T was the most favoured method of temporary contraception in all the 3 study years. Medical termination of pregnancy was like an entry point for contraception, either temporary or permanent in all the study years.