Objective: To analyse the evolution of both pregnancies and voluntary terminations among adolescent women living in Catalonia.
Design: An observational crossover study.
Setting: Catalonia.
Patients and other participants: The rates of fertility, pregnancy and voluntary termination (VT) were calculated. The ratio of VT per 100 live births among adolescent women (aged 15 to 19) and among the general population (15 to 49) between 1987 and 1992 was also calculated.
Measurements and main results: The pregnancy rate of adolescents remained stable throughout the study period, whereas their fertility rate went down. In parallel there was a spectacular increase in the percentage of VTs per live birth among adolescents.
Conclusions: Since the pregnancy rate among adolescents remained practically stable throughout the study period, an increase in activities aimed at primary prevention of these pregnancies is recommended.