Contraception and Abortion in Poland

Abstract

Although 6 in 10 Polish women use some form of contraception, most rely on the least effective methods (withdrawal and rhythm). Only 2% use the pill or IUD. Urban women with more education are most likely to use modern methods. Oral contraceptive use is limited because the pill is only sold in small quantities at drugstores on doctors' prescriptions and is often in short supply. 1st trimester abortions have been legal and widely available since 1956, and Polish women terminate 1/5 of their pregnancies by abortion. However, 1/3 of Polish women of reproductive age state that they believe abortion should be made illegal and more than 1/2 believe the law should be made more restrictive. 55% said that religious factors should be taken into account in matters pertaining to abortion. Recently, emboldened by the success of Solidarity in wringing concessions from the government, the Catholic church has campaigned against the abortion law. While the law remains intact, the government has issued new, tighter regulations which, among other things, allow physicians to refuse to perform abortions on moral grounds. Data come from a 1972 3% random sample survey of currently married reproductive age Polish women.