Different contraceptive practices: use of contraceptives in Finland and other Nordic countries in the 1970s and 1980s
Makkonen, K.; Hemminki, E.
Scandinavian Journal of Social Medicine 19(1): 32-38
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8037 PMID: 1925424 DOI: 10.1177/140349489101900106Document Number: 502302
Researchers used sales data and data from fertility surveys to compare contraceptive practices among the 4 Scandinavian countries. Sales of oral contraceptives (OCs) remained relatively stable within each country, but women used OCs more often in Sweden and Denmark than in Finland and Norway. By the end of the 1980s, however, OC use was about the same in all 4 countries. IUD sales increased considerably more in the late 1970s in Finland than Denmark and Norway. The researchers could not find reliable IUD sales data for Sweden after 1981. IUD sales decreased in the late 1980s in all 3 countries, however. These figures did not take into account the fact that the life time of an IUD increased at this time. In addition, sales figures may have overestimated IUD users by 5-10%. In 1971, the condom ranked as the most prevalent contraceptive used among Finnish women (27%) followed by OCs (17%) and withdrawal (15%). In 1981, most Finnish women used the IUD (25%), especially copper releasing IUDs, followed by the condom (20%) and OCs (18%). In 1977, women tended to use the IUD (23%) in Norway. In 1981, the most popular family planning methods in Sweden were barrier methods (21%), OCs (19%), and the IUD (17%). In 1983, 24% of women in Denmark used OCs. An overall view showed that women in Finland and Sweden preferred to use OCs and IUDs than did women in Norway and Denmark. Maternity clinics in Finland tended to favor IUDs when offering contraceptive advise. In conclusion, researchers should conduct studies to determine those factors which influence contraceptive practices.