Induced abortion (IA) in 21^st-century Catalonia

© 2018, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. All rights reserved. This paper examines the induced abortion (IA) process combining quantitative and qualitative perspectives. First, it describes IA practices in Catalonia within the legal framework regarding sexual and reproductive health established in 2008. Secondly, it estimates the incidence of IA and identifies factors associated with IA in Catalonia using data from the national abortion register. Finally, it analyzes the IA decision-making process at the individual level among pregnant women aged 25-34, taking into account the different steps of the process (sexuality, contraception, pregnancy, decision to terminate a pregnancy and access to health services). The dialogue between the empirical evidence related to the incidence of IA and the decision-making process at the individual level leads to a discussion on the concept of unwanted pregnancy.