Overview and Aims:

In Portugal, abortion by women request is allowed by law until 10 weeks of pregnancy. The number of complications due to abortion has fallenconsiderably since its legalization in 2007. The aim of this study is to characterize thewomen admitted to a VIP consultation at a district hospital in the North of Portugal, considering demographic factors, obstetric background, contraception methods and trends.

Study design, Population, Methods:

This is a descriptive study of the VIP performed between 2008 and 2018. The data were collected through predefined items on the obligatory declaration platform of the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health. Confidentiality has been ensured.

Results:

1669 VIP cases were observed, 1406 (84,2%) of which were first interventions. Considering this subgroup, the majority of women were referred from Primary Care units (52,2%) and denied not attended to family planning appointment in the previous year (67.6%). 44,4% had no children and 28,2% were performed on first 6 weeks of gestation. After VIP, the main contraceptive methods chosen were the subcutaneous implant (27,3%), oral or injectable contraceptives (36%); 9.6% did not choose any method.

Conclusions:

The woman that typically searches for a VIP consultation is born and resident in Portugal, single, between 20 and 24 years old, primiparous, and is a high school graduate. Recognizing this profile makes it essential to promote health literacy at an early age, enabling a conscious choice of the contraceptive method and promoting family planning.

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