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  • Title: [Fatalities after interruption (author's transl)].
    Author: Trube-Becker E.
    Journal: Med Klin; 1974 May 17; 69(20):897-905. PubMed ID: 4848759.
    Abstract:
    A study is presented of 126 women, aged 16-46, who died after undergoing illegal abortions, The number of deaths caused by abortions has fallen between 1947-1973. Of these 126 cases, 75 of the women were married, and 89 were between 21-35; 68 had no children. This would seem to contradict the assumption that the average woman seeking abortion is young, unmarried, or already married with too many children. The most frequent reasons given for abortion among the married women were the number of children and extramarital conception. Among the unmarried women, most sought abortion because the father was already married or had disappeared. 8 of the 75 unmarried women, 27 of the 28 single women, and 3 of the 9 widowed women were employed. The male responsible for the pregnancy seems to have had a significant influence in the decision to seek and abortion. 82 of the abortions occurred in the 2nd-5th months of pregnancy. 55 of the cases involved a 3rd person who performed the abortion; in 14 cases the abortion was self-induced. 23 of the aboritons were performed by experienced abortionists. 36 patients died due to venous air embolisms, 28 due to sepsis, 15 due to peritonitis, and 9 due to soap poisoning, which were the most frequent causes of death. 75 of the 126 deaths led to court cases. It is concluded that a liberalization of the law concerning legal abortion would not reduce the death rate due to illegal abortion or solve any other problems caused by increased fertility.
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