High birth rates despite easy access to contraception and abortion: a cross-sectional study

Helena Hognert; Finn E Skjeldestad; Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson; Oskari Heikinheimo; Ian Milsom; Øjvind Lidegaard; Ingela Lindh

doi:10.1111/aogs.13232

High birth rates despite easy access to contraception and abortion: a cross-sectional study

Helena Hognert, Finn E Skjeldestad, Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson, Oskari Heikinheimo, Ian Milsom, Øjvind Lidegaard, Ingela Lindh

Department of Clinical Medicine

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to describe and compare contraceptive use, fertility, birth, and abortion rates in the Nordic countries.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: National data on births, abortions, fertility rate (1975-2013), redeemed prescriptions of hormonal contraceptives and sales figures of copper intrauterine devices (2008-2013) among women 15-49 years of age in the Nordic countries were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS: Use of hormonal contraceptives and copper intrauterine devices varied between 31 and 44%. The highest use was in Denmark (39-44%) and Sweden (40-42%). Combined hormonal contraception followed by the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system were the most common methods. During 1975-2013 abortion rates decreased in Denmark (from 27/1000 women to 15/1000 women aged 15-44/1000 women) and Finland (from 20 to 10/1000 women), remained stable in Norway (≈16) and Sweden (≈20) and increased in Iceland (from 6 to 15/1000 women). Birth rates remained stable around 60/1000 women aged 15-44 in all countries except for Iceland where the birth rate decreased from 95 to 65/1000 women. Abortion rates were highest in the age group 20-24 years. In the same age group, Sweden had a lower contraceptive use (51%) compared with Denmark (59%) and Norway (56%) and a higher abortion rate 33/1000 compared with Denmark (25/1000) and Norway (27/1000).

CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the declining average fertility and birth rates in Europe, rates in the Nordic countries remain high and stable despite high contraceptive use and liberal access to abortion on women's request.

Original language	English
Journal	Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Volume	96
Issue number	12
Pages (from-to)	1414-1422
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0001-6349
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13232
Publication status	Published - Dec 2017

Keywords

Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data
Adolescent
Adult
Birth Rate
Contraception Behavior/statistics & numerical data
Cross-Sectional Studies
Denmark
Female
Finland
Humans
Middle Aged
Pregnancy
Sweden

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title = "High birth rates despite easy access to contraception and abortion: a cross-sectional study",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to describe and compare contraceptive use, fertility, birth, and abortion rates in the Nordic countries.MATERIAL AND METHODS: National data on births, abortions, fertility rate (1975-2013), redeemed prescriptions of hormonal contraceptives and sales figures of copper intrauterine devices (2008-2013) among women 15-49 years of age in the Nordic countries were collected and analyzed.RESULTS: Use of hormonal contraceptives and copper intrauterine devices varied between 31 and 44%. The highest use was in Denmark (39-44%) and Sweden (40-42%). Combined hormonal contraception followed by the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system were the most common methods. During 1975-2013 abortion rates decreased in Denmark (from 27/1000 women to 15/1000 women aged 15-44/1000 women) and Finland (from 20 to 10/1000 women), remained stable in Norway (≈16) and Sweden (≈20) and increased in Iceland (from 6 to 15/1000 women). Birth rates remained stable around 60/1000 women aged 15-44 in all countries except for Iceland where the birth rate decreased from 95 to 65/1000 women. Abortion rates were highest in the age group 20-24 years. In the same age group, Sweden had a lower contraceptive use (51%) compared with Denmark (59%) and Norway (56%) and a higher abortion rate 33/1000 compared with Denmark (25/1000) and Norway (27/1000).CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the declining average fertility and birth rates in Europe, rates in the Nordic countries remain high and stable despite high contraceptive use and liberal access to abortion on women's request.",

keywords = "Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data, Adolescent, Adult, Birth Rate, Contraception Behavior/statistics & numerical data, Cross-Sectional Studies, Denmark, Female, Finland, Humans, Middle Aged, Pregnancy, Sweden",

author = "Helena Hognert and Skjeldestad, {Finn E} and Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson and Oskari Heikinheimo and Ian Milsom and {\O}jvind Lidegaard and Ingela Lindh",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2017 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.",

year = "2017",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1111/aogs.13232",

language = "English",

volume = "96",

pages = "1414--1422",

journal = "Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica",

issn = "0001-6349",

publisher = "JohnWiley & Sons Ltd",

number = "12",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - High birth rates despite easy access to contraception and abortion

T2 - a cross-sectional study

AU - Hognert, Helena

AU - Skjeldestad, Finn E

AU - Gemzell-Danielsson, Kristina

AU - Heikinheimo, Oskari

AU - Milsom, Ian

AU - Lidegaard, Øjvind

AU - Lindh, Ingela

PY - 2017/12

Y1 - 2017/12

N2 - INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to describe and compare contraceptive use, fertility, birth, and abortion rates in the Nordic countries.MATERIAL AND METHODS: National data on births, abortions, fertility rate (1975-2013), redeemed prescriptions of hormonal contraceptives and sales figures of copper intrauterine devices (2008-2013) among women 15-49 years of age in the Nordic countries were collected and analyzed.RESULTS: Use of hormonal contraceptives and copper intrauterine devices varied between 31 and 44%. The highest use was in Denmark (39-44%) and Sweden (40-42%). Combined hormonal contraception followed by the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system were the most common methods. During 1975-2013 abortion rates decreased in Denmark (from 27/1000 women to 15/1000 women aged 15-44/1000 women) and Finland (from 20 to 10/1000 women), remained stable in Norway (≈16) and Sweden (≈20) and increased in Iceland (from 6 to 15/1000 women). Birth rates remained stable around 60/1000 women aged 15-44 in all countries except for Iceland where the birth rate decreased from 95 to 65/1000 women. Abortion rates were highest in the age group 20-24 years. In the same age group, Sweden had a lower contraceptive use (51%) compared with Denmark (59%) and Norway (56%) and a higher abortion rate 33/1000 compared with Denmark (25/1000) and Norway (27/1000).CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the declining average fertility and birth rates in Europe, rates in the Nordic countries remain high and stable despite high contraceptive use and liberal access to abortion on women's request.

AB - INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to describe and compare contraceptive use, fertility, birth, and abortion rates in the Nordic countries.MATERIAL AND METHODS: National data on births, abortions, fertility rate (1975-2013), redeemed prescriptions of hormonal contraceptives and sales figures of copper intrauterine devices (2008-2013) among women 15-49 years of age in the Nordic countries were collected and analyzed.RESULTS: Use of hormonal contraceptives and copper intrauterine devices varied between 31 and 44%. The highest use was in Denmark (39-44%) and Sweden (40-42%). Combined hormonal contraception followed by the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system were the most common methods. During 1975-2013 abortion rates decreased in Denmark (from 27/1000 women to 15/1000 women aged 15-44/1000 women) and Finland (from 20 to 10/1000 women), remained stable in Norway (≈16) and Sweden (≈20) and increased in Iceland (from 6 to 15/1000 women). Birth rates remained stable around 60/1000 women aged 15-44 in all countries except for Iceland where the birth rate decreased from 95 to 65/1000 women. Abortion rates were highest in the age group 20-24 years. In the same age group, Sweden had a lower contraceptive use (51%) compared with Denmark (59%) and Norway (56%) and a higher abortion rate 33/1000 compared with Denmark (25/1000) and Norway (27/1000).CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the declining average fertility and birth rates in Europe, rates in the Nordic countries remain high and stable despite high contraceptive use and liberal access to abortion on women's request.

KW - Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Birth Rate

KW - Contraception Behavior/statistics & numerical data

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Denmark

KW - Female

KW - Finland

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Sweden

U2 - 10.1111/aogs.13232

DO - 10.1111/aogs.13232

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28921518

SN - 0001-6349

VL - 96

SP - 1414

EP - 1422

JO - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

JF - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

IS - 12

ER -

High birth rates despite easy access to contraception and abortion: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Keywords

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