Critical care providers' opinion on unsafe abortion in Argentina.

Objective: To survey the opinion of critical care providers in Argentina about abortion.

Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to critical care providers attending the 20th National Critical Care Conference in Argentina.

Results: 149 of 1800 attendees completed the questionnaire, 69 (46.3%) of whom were members of the Argentine Society of Critical Care (ASCC). 122 (81.9%) supported abortion decriminalization in situations excluded from the current law; 142 (95.3%) in cases of congenital defects; 133 (89.3%) in cases of rape; 115 (77.2%) when women's mental health is at risk; 71 (47.7%) when pregnancy is unintended; and 61 (40.9%) for economic reasons. 126 (84.6%) supported abortion in public and private institutions, and 121 (81.2%) before 12 weeks of pregnancy. Variables independently associated with abortion support among female versus male attendees were abortion to preserve women's mental health (OR 4.47; 95% CI, 1.61-12.42; P=0.004) and abortion before 12 weeks of pregnancy (OR 3.93; 95% CI, 1.29-11.94; P=0.015). Abortion at request was independently associated with ASCC membership (OR 2.63; 95% CI, 1.07-6.45; P=0.034).

Conclusion: Critical care providers would support abortion in situations excluded from the current abortion law and before 12 weeks of pregnancy, in both public and private hospitals.