RESUMO
PIP: 514 women, who were hospitalzed for abortion in a Brazilian hospital 783 times in 1970-1974, were studied. In the same period, there were 2872 deliveries (3.6 deliveries for each abortion). The abortions were divided approximately equally between married and single women (50.6% and 47.3%, respectively). 434 abortions (55.4%) were classified as spontaneous, 152 (19.5%) as induced, and 197 (25.1%) unspecified. The study showed 15.1 spontaneous and 5.2 induced abortions per 100 deliveries; it is pointed out, however, that these figures only reflect hospital cases, and the actual total number of induced abortions in the area studied is estimated to be 3 times as high. The number of abortions increased by 51.08% from 1972 to 1973, and by 20.14% form 1973 to 1974. The average duration of hospitalization was 2.8 days. In 1973-1974, 73 out of 306 cases (23.8%) required blood transfusions (average 870 ml). Complications were present in 21 cases (2.68%), without any fatal cases. The average cost of hospitalization (excluding professional personnel costs) was Cr$330.74 over the 4-year period, and the total cost at the time of publication is estimated as approximately 1000 cruzeiros.^ieng