Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy on Three Grounds in Chile (2018–2023)

Abstract

Introduction: Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy after the implantation of the zygote in the endometrium and before the fetus has reached extrauterine viability. It is estimated that between 2015 and 2019, approximately 73 million abortions were performed each year, 45% of which were conducted under unsafe conditions. In Chile, Law No. 21.030, enacted in 2017, decriminalized and regulated voluntary termination of pregnancy, following a total ban in place since 1989. Nearly eight years after its implementation, we describe the application of voluntary termination of pregnancy under three legal grounds between 2018 and 2023 in Chile, identifying the legal grounds invoked, age groups, and regions with the highest number of recorded procedures. Methodology: This is a longitudinal ecological observational study. Data were obtained from the Department of Health Statistics and Information (2018–2023). Results: A total of 4,938 cases of Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy were recorded in Chile. Ground 2 was the most frequently invoked, accounting for 2,348 cases (47.55%). Women aged 25–34 represented the highest proportion of procedures (43.97%; n = 2,171). Discussion: Over the six years analyzed, 165 girls under the age of 14 required access to abortion under this legal framework, and in total, 321 minors (<18 years old) legally terminated pregnancies resulting from rape. A structural barrier to accessing voluntary termination of pregnancy is the conscientious objection of healthcare professionals, which delays medical care and may lead to inequalities.