RESUMO
Abortion in Zambia is liberalized. A hospital based study to determine characteristics of women having legal abortion was conducted at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. A total of 200 participants attending a Gynaecological clinic were interviewed from March to May 1993. The clients' five year age groups between 15 and 45 years were about equally represented in the study and 113 (56.5 pc) clients were of single status, out of which 10 (15.9 pc) were students. The respondents were fairly educated with 140 (70.0 pc) having attained secondary education. The mean gestation was 8.3 (standard deviation 2.2) weeks. About one half (52.5 pc) of the clients had used no contraception method. We conclude that use of contraceptives was low and hence there was a need for expanded family planning education and making contraceptives available to all concerned, including students, in order to reduce the abortion rate.
