Contraceptive practice by women presenting to a free-standing abortion clinic.

A study was made of the contraceptive methods practised by the first 1,007 women who presented to the Preterm Sydney Clinic regarding pregnancy termination, after the clinic opened in June, 1974. The women's use of contraception at the time of the conception in particular, and also the women's general contraceptive history are described. These factors are related to social and demographic variables of age, marital status, educational level, occupation, country of birth, and religion. Additional discussion is included on the types of contraception used, the sources of contraceptive knowledge, and the methods chosen to use after the abortion.