Last year, just over 33,700 abortions were reported to the National Board of Health and Welfare, which is about 900 fewer than in 2020. The number of abortions has mainly decreased among younger women between the ages of 15-19.
The National Board of Health and Welfare points to the increase in contraceptives such as IUDs and contraceptive pills as a reason for the decrease. Another reason may be the pandemic and that many had fewer social contacts due to the restrictions, according to the National Board of Health and Welfare.
Home abortions increased
Of all reported abortions in 2021, 96 percent were performed with a medical method and of abortions performed before week 9, the proportion was 97 percent.
A medical abortion takes place through a drug treatment in two stages, of which the last stage can take place at home up to week ten of pregnancy – so-called home abortion.
In total, just over 75 per cent of all abortions in 2021 were home abortions and of the abortions performed before week seven, almost 90 per cent were home abortions.
Inga-Maj Andersson, an expert at the National Board of Health and Welfare, does not see the fact that home abortions have increased as problematic:
– It is important that the woman can choose how the abortion should go, especially with increased opportunities. It is important that there is participation, but that the abortion also takes place safely and that there is contact with the care.
The debate about home abortions has been on the agenda before and as recently as April this year, an inquiry into home abortions was set up to allow people to take the first dose at home as well.
Sweden among the top in Europe
The number of abortions in Sweden is still high in Europe – despite the fact that the number of abortions is declining.
– We have good access to abortion, with, among other things, youth clinics and with Sweden’s abortion law. It is an asset that other countries may not have, so I think you have to see the whole picture when it comes to a European perspective, says Inga-Maj Andersson.
Kristina Gemzell Danielsson, head of the WHO’s co-operation center in human reproductive health, also believes that it is not possible to trust the statistics completely.
– In the compilations that have been made, we are high. But it is not possible to compare straight off. We have different reporting systems. I would say that we have the abortions we need, she says and develops.