Trends in induced abortions between 1975 and 2000 in a cohort of women born in 1960–64 in four Scandinavian countries

Abstract

Objectives To study induced abortion rates, live birth rates, and proportions between the number of induced abortions and live births during a 25-year period in a cohort of Scandinavian women born 1960–1964.

Method The numbers of abortions and live births in a cohort of women in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden who were 15–19 years old in 1975 were retrieved from official statistics for 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2000, when these women had turned 40 to 44 years of age.

Results Women in each country, who were 15–19 years old in 1975, maintained their original behaviour regarding induced abortion throughout their fertile period. Women in Denmark and Sweden, who had the highest rates of induced abortion in 1975, still had higher rates than women in Norway and Finland in 2000 when aged 40–44.

Conclusion Behaviour and attitudes established at a young age seem to remain unchanged over time. This finding indicates that guidance and education of youths concerning reproductive matters may be decisive in shaping behaviour for most of the fertile period.

KEYWORDS:

• Legal abortion
• Abortion rates
• Trends
• Birth rates
• Nordic countries

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.