Abortion among French students: result of a 15 years follow-up in a French university

Abstract

Abstract Issue The level of abortion in France is judged high, and since 2002 a policy is developed among students to lower it in this particular population Methods Since 2003, every 2 years we made an anonymous survey on abortion frequency, reasons and care in our university, which has between 12.000 and 12.000 she-students. We work on data from abortion centres of our area. Results Abortion rates are stable (5,3-8,5%0), half of the French rate for women (12,0-15,1%0).The risk is significantly lower for French students (6,3%0) compared to students from China (relative risk - RR 1,7, with a significant fall since 2011 - after a specific information campaign on contraception in France), North Africa (RR 2,0 stable) and Sub-Saharan Africa (RR 7,6 stable). ¼ had no contraception, ½ used condoms and 1/3 used oral contraception. 7,2% took emergency contraception. Medical abortion count for 1/3, but ¾ of the surgical techniques could have been replaced by medical drugs. After abortion, condoms are no more used and only 1% of the she-students decided not to take contraception. The main change is the fall down of the use of oral contraception after abortion (from 77% to 43%) replaced by intra-uterine device (IUD- from 1,7% to 22,5%) and contraceptive implant (CI- from 6,4% to 19,6%). Complete qualitative and quantitative results for 2018 will be also presented. Lessons General information on contraception did not change abortion rates, except for Chinese students. But, the increase use of hidden contraception (IUD and CI) after abortion encourage us to insist to the use of these hidden devices for the she-students belonging to social groups where contraception is discredited as a way to promote “bad habits”. Key messages Since 2003, abortion rates are stable among french students, and concerned mainly foreign students. The greater use ’hidden’ devices of contraception may improve this situation.