Legally induced abortions in 1990
Rancke-Madsen, A.; Tanska, I.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 154(4): 205-206
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 1736448 Document Number: 394762
Pursuant to a 1973 law a woman is entitled to the termination of pregnancy without special permission within the 12th week of pregnancy. In 1990 a total of 20,589 induced abortions were officially reported, 867 fewer than in 1989 when the total was 21,456. 52.3% of abortions were done to women aged 20-29. Only 1% of the procedures were performed in women under 15 and aged 45 or over. 33.9% of abortion seekers were residents of Copenhagen, 37.3% lived in Jylland, and 54% were domiciled in Sjaelland. In 1990 the age-specific abortion rate was much higher in metropolitan Copenhagen and North Sjaelland than in Jylland except for the 13.5% rate in Arhus County. Since 1982 the general abortion rate had been constant: women aged 18-29 had abortions most frequently. Women in the 35-30 age group and those in the 15-17 age group had about the same frequency of abortions. About 2% of abortions occurred after the 12th week of pregnancy, and over 3/4 of interventions were done in the 7-10th week of pregnancy. The very young tended to have relatively more abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy. Accordingly, in 1990 women under 18 had 58 abortions after the 12th week amounting to 5% of abortions. Most abortions were carried out via aspiration and evacuation of the uterus after dilatation followed by evacuation with dilatation, and by instillation of extraamnial medication. The average duration of hospitalization decreased from 2.3 days in 1986 to 1.7 days in 1988.