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Sandra G.
García, Claudia Diaz, Eileen A. Yam, and
Jorge Buendia.
"Changes in Mexicans' abortion and emergency contraception
knowledge and attitudes: 2000–2006."
ABSTRACT
Background
In 2000, little was known about Mexicans' experience, knowledge,
and opinions of emergency contraception (EC) and abortion. We
conducted a survey at that time to gauge public opinion on these
controversial issues. We fielded a follow-up survey in 2006.
Methods
The first survey was conducted in 2000, with an n=3000. In 2006
we repeated the survey, adapting the 2000 questionnaire, with 3,500
participants. We also estimated abortion prevalence in 2006 by using
a “sealed-envelope technique,” giving literate women a one-page
questionnaire asking whether or not they have ever had a pregnancy
“not carried to term,” and whether they have ever induced abortion.
Results
EC awareness doubled between 2000 and 2006 (from 31 percent to 59
percent) and
use of EC (9 percent) was similar to that documented in other Latin
American countries for 2006. The percentage of respondents who would
recommend EC decreased from 77 percent in 2000 to 48 percent in
2006. In 2006, 69
percent (vs. 80 percent in
2000) believed that abortion should be legal when a woman's life is
at risk, and far fewer respondents supported legal abortion for
economic reasons (17 percent in 2000 vs. 12 percent in 2006). Of the literate
women who responded to the sealed-envelope questions (n=1,518), 14
percent
had experienced a pregnancy that they did not carry to term, and 4
percent
stated they had ever induced an abortion. One percent of all
literate women stated they had ever used misoprostol to interrupt a
pregnancy.
Conclusions
Mexicans' awareness of EC is increasing, but public opinion on
EC and abortion remains conservative.
Learning objective
- To understand differences in Mexicans' knowledge, attitudes,
and practices on emergency contraception and abortion between
2000 and 2006.
Oral Session 4325.0—Abortion: International Perspectives
Tuesday, 6 November 2007,
4:30–6:00
pm
APHA 2007 Conference Web site
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