Definitions

Abortion (induced)

The Therapeutic Abortion Survey collects data on legally induced abortions. The survey excludes illegal abortions and spontaneous abortions (i.e., miscarriages).

Induced abortion is defined as the medical termination of pregnancy. Equivalent terms include: artificial abortion, therapeutic abortion, voluntary termination of pregnancy, elective termination of pregnancy, and active termination of pregnancy.

The term 'therapeutic' remains in the title of the survey for the sake of historical consistency. From late 1969 (when the survey first began) until 1988, a woman could only obtain an induced abortion if a committee of at least three physicians determined that the pregnancy was a risk to the woman's life or health (including mental health). In January 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the 1969 abortion law, thus removing the requirement of a health or therapeutic reason to obtain an abortion.

Age

Age (in completed years) of the woman undergoing an abortion procedure, on the date the pregnancy was terminated.

Area of report

Area of report refers to the province or territory in which the abortion was performed. Reports of abortions performed on Canadian residents in the United States are also included where applicable.

Area of residence

Area of residence refers to the usual province or territory of residence of the woman obtaining the abortion. Statistics on non-residents of Canada who obtained an abortion in Canada are also included where applicable.

Type of facility

The Therapeutic Abortion Survey collects information on abortions performed in two types of facilities: hospitals and clinics.

Measures and rates

Abortion rate

In tables that contain no age group breakdowns, the abortion rate is calculated as the annual number of induced abortions performed per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44.

In tables that contain age group breakdowns, the abortion rate is calculated as the annual number of induced abortions performed per 1,000 women aged 14 to 44.

Age-specific abortion rate

This rate is calculated as the annual number of induced abortions performed on women in a specified age group per 1,000 women of the same age.

Abortions per 100 live births

A ratio indicating the number of abortions performed for every 100 live births.