SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 28 September (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands have recorded a total of 4,953 abortions in 2023, resulting in a ratio of 11.89 voluntary pregnancy terminations per 1,000 women of childbearing age. This figure marks an increase compared to 2022, when it was at 10.76, as indicated by the State Registry of Voluntary Interruptions of Pregnancy, released this Saturday by the Ministry of Health.
Out of the 4,953 abortions noted last year in the Canary Islands, 486 were carried out on individuals aged between 15 and 19; 1,096 in women aged 20 to 24; 1,136 in those aged 25 to 29; 1,021 in women between 30 and 34; 806 in the 35 to 39 age group; 367 in the 40 to 44 age group, and 40 in individuals over 40. Additionally, one abortion was recorded for a minor under 15.
By province, 2,581 procedures were performed in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with the majority occurring among those aged 25 to 29 (595), while 2,372 were carried out in Las Palmas, including 541 among women of the same age range.
Of the total, 2,529 had no living children, 1,338 had one child, 801 had two children, 210 had three children, 52 had four children, and 23 had five or more children. Furthermore, 3,135 had not previously undergone any abortion, 1,211 had one prior, 383 had two, 117 had three, 53 had four, and 54 had five or more voluntary abortions.
The majority of voluntary abortions occurred within the first eight weeks of gestation, totalling 3,476; an additional 1,352 were conducted between weeks 9 and 14; 110 between weeks 15 and 22, and 15 from 23 weeks onward.
Regarding the reasons for interruption, 4,767 were at the request of the woman; 57 due to significant risk to the life or health of the pregnant individual; 105 due to potential serious anomalies in the fetus; 24 due to fetal anomalies incompatible with life or severe and incurable illness, with none categorised as ‘various reasons’.
NATIONAL DATA
Nationally, Spain reported a total of 103,097 voluntary terminations of pregnancy (IVE) in 2023, which is 4,781 more than in 2022, when 98,316 IVEs were recorded. This equates to a 4.8 percent rise within a year and an 8.7 percent increase since 2014, which had 94,796 voluntary abortions registered.
The data, revealed in alignment with World Safe Abortion Day, demonstrate that the IVE rate in Spain reached 12.22 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 last year. This rate surpasses both the 11.68 recorded in 2022 and the 10.46 from 2014, suggesting an increase in the frequency of this procedure in recent years.
Concerning the type of facility, 81.45 percent of IVEs were executed in private clinics. By Autonomous Community, Catalonia holds the highest IVE rate at 14.92 per 1,000 women, closely succeeded by the Community of Madrid at a rate of 13.92. Conversely, Aragón presents the lowest rate at 8.4 per 1,000 women.
The incidence rate saw increases across all age demographics, particularly among those aged 19 and under. A striking 93.94 percent of IVEs were performed at the request of the woman. Furthermore, 75.19 percent were recorded in gestations of eight weeks or fewer, and 66.99 percent of women had not previously had any voluntary abortions.
Regarding lifestyle, 30.69 percent of women reported living with a partner. 58.01 percent were employed, and 65.52 percent were Spanish nationals. The statistics indicate a slight growth in women achieving Baccalaureate or equivalent vocational qualifications, as well as those possessing university degrees.
Surgical methods accounted for 69.77 percent of the procedures; however, the pharmacological method has become predominant in regions such as Cantabria (96.50%), Navarra (76%), the Balearic Islands (74%), La Rioja (68%), Galicia (59.6%), and Catalonia (55.74%).
In the year 2023, 10,934 IVEs were documented among those under 20, representing a 4.78 percent increase from 2022. Additionally, the report specifies that 46.50 percent of women did not employ any contraceptive method.
NOTIFYING CENTRES
The count of centres reporting IVEs has risen to 230, up from 222 in 2022. Hospital facilities noted 16,845 IVEs: 8,201 in public centres and 8,644 in private. A total of 86,252 occurred in out-of-hospital facilities, consisting of 10,924 in public centres and 75,328 in private ones.
In total, 98,850 voluntary terminations of pregnancy were reported at the woman’s behest; 3,294 due to serious risks to the mother’s life or health; 2,688 for potential severe anomalies in the fetus; and 263 for fetal anomalies incompatible with life or severe and incurable illnesses.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Health underscores the necessity of “continuing efforts in sexual and reproductive education, alongside improved access to contraceptive methods, to lower the rate of unplanned pregnancies.”
