Sexual Health

Abortions

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Activity in 2007

Abortion tables

Abortion charts

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Link to relevant notes and data definitions

Activity in 2007

In 2007 there were 13,703 abortions performed compared to 13,163 in 2006. This is consistent with the pattern seen in recent years. In 2007, the rate for women aged 15-44 was 13.0 for every 1000 women compared to 11.1 for every 1000 women in 2000.
The rate of terminations for women aged 15 to 44 is highest in NHS Tayside at 17.1 per 1000 women. In NHS Grampian the rate for this group of women is 14.7 per 1000 women and in NHS Lothian the rate for this group is 14.3 per 1000 women. The Island Boards (Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles) have the lowest rate, 6.1 per 1000 women.
As seen in previous years, the rate of terminations in 2007, was highest in women aged 16-19 (24.9 per 1000) and those aged 20-24 (24.5 per 1000). Lower rates are seen in women aged 25-29 (17.8 per 1000) and in women aged over 40 (2.1 per 1000).
In 2007, the rate of abortions continues to show a clear link with the level of deprivation. In areas of high deprivation the rate is 17.4 per 1000 compared to 9.6 per 1000 for the least deprived areas of Scotland. The differences in rates in deprivation vary across NHS boards, but can be as much as three fold between (most and least deprived) areas, as in NHS Highland (25.2 and 7.7), NHS Fife (25.6 and 8.1) and NHS Grampian (31.3 and 11.1) per 1000 terminations.
The proportion of early terminations has been rising steadily in recent years, with 69.1% of all terminations performed at less than 10 weeks in 2007. This compares to 55.8% of terminations performed at less than 10 weeks in 1992, when medical terminations were introduced.
The use of medical methods continues to increase, with 61.8% of all terminations performed medically in 2007 compared to 16.4% in 1992. 68.1% of terminations of less than 10 weeks gestation are carried out by medical methods and 31.9% are carried out surgically.
Just over a quarter (26.3%) of the 13,703 women having a termination in 2007 have had a previous termination. This varies across boards from 19.2% in the Island boards to 30.4% in NHS Grampian.
In 2007, the vast majority (13,104; 95.6%) of terminations were undertaken under Ground C. There were 167 terminations carried out under Ground E of which 37 were for Down syndrome, 66 for other chromosomal conditions, 15 for anencephaly, 11 for spina bifida and the remaining 38 for other conditions.
Of the 13,703 therapeutic abortions performed in Scotland during 2007, 99.3% were carried out in NHS premises