An analysis of the first 200 legal abortions at the Johannesburg General Hospital.

A retrospective study was made of the first 200 terminations of pregnancy at the Johannesburg General Hospital since the promulgation of the Abortion and Sterilization Act of 1975. The indications for termination of pregnancy, the ages, marital status and parity of the patients, the procedures and their complications are analysed. Psychiatric factors were cited in 76% of cases. Further indications were rubella infection in the first trimester of pregnancy, medical, genetic and legal factors. The use of intra- and extra-amniotic prostaglandin administration is compared.