Scientific production on induced abortion in Peru: A scoping review of studies from 1965–2024

INTRODUCTION: Induced abortion is a major public health issue worldwide, particularly in restrictive legal contexts where unsafe procedures are more common. In Peru, where abortion is permitted only to preserve the woman's life or health, limited evidence exists on the scope and focus of local scientific research on this topic. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, trends, and topics of original research on induced abortion conducted in Peru. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, LILACS, and Google Scholar up to 2024, without restrictions on year, language, or study design. Eligible studies were original research articles reporting empirical data on induced abortion in Peru. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers using a standardized form, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Findings were synthesized descriptively. RESULTS: Of 756 records screened, 43 studies were included, published between 1965 and 2024, with increased output since 2022. Most were original articles (95%) and cross-sectional (95%). Forty percent involved international collaboration. Two-thirds were conducted solely in Peru, and 42% were limited to Lima.Main topics included perceptions (28%), prevalence and characterization (26%), methods and costs (14%), barriers to access (7%), and post-abortion experiences (12%). CONCLUSION: Scientific production on induced abortion in Peru remains limited but has grown in recent years. Across these studies, common themes include the persistence of legal and social restrictions, feelings of stigma and guilt, and limitations within the health system that affect access to safe care.