fhispaper analyses the present stale ofknowledge on induced abortion in Latin America based on a critical review ofinformation from regional meetings and seminars in the 1990s and articles in international journals in the field.' It focuses on the incidence of abortion, the abortion decision-making process, and thepolitical and public dimensions ofinduced abortion, and discusses theoretical and methodological aspects ofabortion research, and ethical andpolitical concerns. It calls for the consolidation of the data obtained to date; the introduction ofnew theoretical frameworks and approaches from other disciplines; the reduction ofinequalities in the available knowledge between countries in the region through national and comparative research; and deeper analysis of the political dimensions of induced abortion, particularly matters of legislation, public debate and health programme development.