[Scientific evidence on the legalization of abortion in Mexico City].

BACKGROUND

On April 24 2007, abortion before 12 weeks became legal in Mexico City. The arguments for this decision were: diminish the maternal morbidity and mortality, avoid a "severe health problem" and accomplish the women's physical, mental and social well being.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the scientific evidences that support or reject this arguments.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective study realized by bibliographic search of electronic data basis and Internet portals of interested groups.

RESULTS

Mexico is considered by the World Health Organization, one of the countries in the world with low maternal mortality rates (<100/100,000 live births). The main causes are: preeclampsia-eclampsia, pregnancy related hemorrhage, complications of pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, and other causes (92.2 to 93.1%). In 2007, the Health Services of Mexico City reported 11 deaths (0.03% of the total maternal deaths) associated with "non-spontaneous abortion". In the hospitals of the Mexican Institute of Social Security, maternal deaths as consequence of induced abortions were, approximately, three every year. The evidences used as arguments in favor of abortion come from studies performed in Sub-Saharan African countries, which do not apply to Mexico.

DISCUSSION: The scientific evidences show that induced abortion has important psychological sequels in women, a higher frequency of illegal drug abuse, alcoholism, child abuse, low birth weight in the following pregnancy, greater risk of subsequent miscarriage and greater mortality rate.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no scientific evidences to support the arguments used for the legal approval of abortion in Mexico City.