Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on births and induced abortions in Southern Sweden: a register-based study
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Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on births and induced abortions in Southern Sweden : a register-based study. / Thacher, Jesse D; Vilhelmsson, Andreas; Blomberg, Annelise J; Rylander, Lars; Jöud, Anna; Schmidt, Lone; Hougaard, Charlotte Ørsted; Elmerstig, Eva; Vassard, Ditte; Mattsson, Kristina.
I: BMJ sexual & reproductive health, 2024.Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on births and induced abortions in Southern Sweden
T2 - a register-based study
AU - Thacher, Jesse D
AU - Vilhelmsson, Andreas
AU - Blomberg, Annelise J
AU - Rylander, Lars
AU - Jöud, Anna
AU - Schmidt, Lone
AU - Hougaard, Charlotte Ørsted
AU - Elmerstig, Eva
AU - Vassard, Ditte
AU - Mattsson, Kristina
N1 - © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - BACKGROUND: Pandemics are linked with declining birth rates, but little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced childbearing decisions. We aimed to investigate the associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and reproductive decisions, specifically to identify potential changes in the frequency of deliveries and induced abortions in Skåne, Sweden.METHODS: Using the Skåne Healthcare Register, we identified women aged 15-45 years who had at least one pregnancy-related care visit registered between 1 January 2013 and 11 November 11 2021. Deliveries and induced abortions were identified, and changes in weekly delivery and abortion counts were assessed using an interrupted time series design. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from a Poisson regression model.RESULTS: During the study period we identified 129 131 deliveries and 38 591 abortions. Compared with the counterfactual (exposed interval assuming COVID-19 had not occurred), pandemic exposure was associated with fewer deliveries (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98). For abortions, pandemic exposure appeared to be associated with fewer abortions (RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.90 to 1.00); however, age-related differences were found. Among women aged 25 years and over, pandemic exposure was more strongly associated with fewer abortions. Contrastingly, among women aged under 25 years, abortions appeared to increase.CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have contributed to a decline in births in Southern Sweden. During the same period, abortions declined in women in the older age range, but contrastingly increased among younger women.
AB - BACKGROUND: Pandemics are linked with declining birth rates, but little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced childbearing decisions. We aimed to investigate the associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and reproductive decisions, specifically to identify potential changes in the frequency of deliveries and induced abortions in Skåne, Sweden.METHODS: Using the Skåne Healthcare Register, we identified women aged 15-45 years who had at least one pregnancy-related care visit registered between 1 January 2013 and 11 November 11 2021. Deliveries and induced abortions were identified, and changes in weekly delivery and abortion counts were assessed using an interrupted time series design. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from a Poisson regression model.RESULTS: During the study period we identified 129 131 deliveries and 38 591 abortions. Compared with the counterfactual (exposed interval assuming COVID-19 had not occurred), pandemic exposure was associated with fewer deliveries (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98). For abortions, pandemic exposure appeared to be associated with fewer abortions (RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.90 to 1.00); however, age-related differences were found. Among women aged 25 years and over, pandemic exposure was more strongly associated with fewer abortions. Contrastingly, among women aged under 25 years, abortions appeared to increase.CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have contributed to a decline in births in Southern Sweden. During the same period, abortions declined in women in the older age range, but contrastingly increased among younger women.
U2 - 10.1136/bmjsrh-2023-202162
DO - 10.1136/bmjsrh-2023-202162
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38834283
JO - BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health
JF - BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health
SN - 2515-1991
ER -
ID: 394593186