Darko Ropac

Abortion Statistical Data in Croatia – Some Characteristics and Comparison

Croatia belongs to countries where abortion is conditionally permitted. The total number of abortions decreased by 39.7 % in the period 2000-2015, with the largest decrease of 60.1 % in legally induced cases. A constant drop in their number is observed, from 170 to 80/1,000, which is an abortion rate reduction of 52.9 % (P <0.001) . The number of women of fertile age is constantly decreasing. In the period 2000–2015, there was a decrease in the number of women by 88,432, or by 10.1 %. At the same time, registered abortion rates ranged from 14.7 to 10.7/1.000, respectively from 7.6 to 3.8/1.000 women of fertile age (P <0.001). The same trend is also present when the data are presented as an abortion rate of 1,000 births. In the observed period, the abortion rate in Croatia dropped significantly from 154.4/1000 to 76.6/1.000. Legally-induced abortions in 2015 were most common in the age group 30–39 (45.5 % of all abortions), and the lowest in the group up to 19 years (7.5 %). Among women seeking abortion, most are those who did not give birth (31 %), and then those who already have two children (29.5 %).