Contraceptive use among migrant women with a history of induced abortion in Finland

Abstract

Background: Women’s contraceptive choices may change after an induced abortion, due to contraceptive counselling or a behavioural change prompted by the experience. The effect may vary between women; sociocultural background, for example, may affect their subsequent reproductive choices.

Objective: We examined whether women’s current contraceptive use was differently associated with a history of induced abortion among immigrant groups in Finland (Russian, Kurdish and Somali) and the general Finnish population.

Methods: We analysed data from two surveys, the Migrant Health and Wellbeing study and the Health 2011 study, linked to the Finnish register of induced abortions. Propensity score weighted logistic regression was used to analyse the data.

Results: The likelihood of using contraceptives after an abortion varied depending on women’s sociocultural background. A history of induced abortion increased contraceptive use among all groups, except Russian women, in whom there was no effect. The effect was particularly strong for Kurdish women.

Conclusion: Sociocultural background was an important determinant of post-abortion contraceptive use. Some immigrants may struggle to navigate the Finnish health care system due to language or literacy issues. Attention should be paid to improving access to family planning among these groups.

摘要

背景：由于避孕药具的咨询或经验引起的行为改变, 女性的避孕选择可能会在人工流产后发生变化。对不同女性的影响可能不同, 例如, 社会文化背景可能会影响她们随后的生育选择。

目的：我们研究了芬兰移民群体女性（俄罗斯, 库尔德和索马里）和芬兰一般人群女性的避孕药具应用的不同是否与人工流产史相关。

方法：我们分析了两项调查的数据, 即移民健康和福利研究以及与芬兰人工流产登记相关的2011年健康研究。倾向得分加权逻辑回归用于分析数据。

结果：人工流产后应用避孕药具的可能性取决于女性的社会文化背景。人工流产史增加了所有群体避孕药具的应用, 但俄罗斯女性除外, 其是没有效果的。但对库尔德女性的影响特别大。

结论：社会文化背景是人工流产后应用避孕药具的重要决定因素。由于语言或读写问题, 一些移民可能难以掌握芬兰的医疗保健系统。应该注意改善这些群体获得计划生育的机会。

Keywords:

• Family planning
• Finland
• induced abortion
• migrant health
• sexual and reproductive health

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Minna Säävälä for her contributions at the early stages of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The Maamu data collection was funded by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA), European Social Fund (ESF) and the Finnish Work Environment Fund.