Abstract
In 2000, the rate of induced abortion among teenagers was lower in Denmark than inFinland for the .first time in ten years, while the abortion rate for 20-24-year-oldwomen was lower, but increasing in Finland and decreasing in Denmark. Based onpublished datafor 1973-2000, an analysis was made of whether the increasing abortionrates in Finland rejlect an increasing occurrence of unintended pregnancies orwhether there is a lower propensity to give birth ifpregnant.The .findings show that the most recent increase is related both to increasing rates ofpregnancies and a lower propensity to choose to give birth ifpregnant, while the lowabortion rates in the mid-l 990s were characterized by both a decreasing rate of pregnanciesand a higher propensity to give birth. Possible explanations can be found inboth the reduction of the sex education programs in schools in Finland and changedliving conditions for families with children.
Highlights
The .findings show that the most recent increase is related both to increasing rates of pregnancies and a lower propensity to choose to give birth ifpregnant, while the low abortion rates in the mid-l 990s were characterized by both a decreasing rate of pregnancies and a higher propensity to give birth
The aims of the analysis presented here are to study whether the increase in the abortion rate among the young women in Finland reflects an increasing rate of pregnancies, which might mean an increase in the occurrence of unplanned/unintendedpregnancies
From 1985 to 1988 the rate was higher in Finland than in Denmark, but during the period from 1989 to 1994 a very steep decline brought the rate in Finland to a level as low as one-third below the rate in Denmark
Summary
The .findings show that the most recent increase is related both to increasing rates of pregnancies and a lower propensity to choose to give birth ifpregnant, while the low abortion rates in the mid-l 990s were characterized by both a decreasing rate of pregnancies and a higher propensity to give birth. The pivot of this paper was the observation that Denmark and Finland had changed places in regard to the levels of induced abortion among 15-19-year-old women in the most recent annual statistics available. The 'historical' and world-famous low teenage abortion rate in Finland had been increasing since 1995, while the rate in Address för correspondence: Department of Social Studies and Organization, Aalborg U nrversrty, Kroghstrrede 5, DK-9220 Aalborg Ost, Denmark. Regarding the slightly oldergroup ofwomen, the abortionrate för 20-24-year-oldwomenwas lower, increasing,in Finland,whilea constantand rather strongdecreasewas seenin Denmark. These conditions are important factors in the development that has provided the populations with their extended possibilities of exercising effective birth control
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