Latin America increased number of abortions after warning zika

                   

Washington - Applications for abortion pills in some Latin American countries on alert by zika virus fired, although in most cases the interruption of pregnancy is extremely limited by law, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The increase in requests for abortion pills rose from 36% to 108%, something that researchers consider unprecedented compared with previous data to alerts on virus zika issued in November by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

This alert triggered governments of recommendations from Latin America, who asked that women avoid getting pregnant the risk of the fetus develop microcephaly.

The scientists analyzed the progression between 2010 and March this year applications for abortion pills, one of the few options that exist to practice abortion, "Women on the Web", an NGO that provides abortive medication outside the traditional health system in places where abortion is not a universal option.

"In Latin American countries in which they were issued warnings for pregnant women about complications associated with infection of the virus zika, there was a significant increase in requests to the 'Women on Web'," the study concludes.

The report divides the Latin American countries among those who were autochthonous cases zika transmission and not, as well as those issued recommendations to avoid pregnancy and those who did not.

Among those countries with zika infections in their territory and public health warnings, Brazil and Ecuador topped the list with 108% increase applications for abortion pills in both cases against the statistical level expected in normal conditions before the alert PAHO.

Venezuela increased by 93%, followed by Honduras (76%), Colombia (39%) and Costa Rica and El Salvador, both with 36%.

Among those with cases of transmission of local zika but no public recommendations to avoid pregnancy, the smallest increases were in general, with 68% in Bolivia, followed by Nicaragua and Paraguay (24%) and Panama (21%).

The researchers acknowledge that beyond the "Women on Web" Latin American pregnant women who want to terminate the pregnancy for fear of zika may also be using the black market or other ways to get the pills.