Incidence of legal abortion in Sweden after the Chernobyl accident

Abstract

The number of legal abortions in Sweden increased around the time of the Chernobyl accident, particularly in the summer and autumn of 1986. Although there was no recording of reasons for legal abortions, one might have suspected this increase to be a result of fear and anxiety after the accident. However, seen over a longer time perspective, the increase in the number of abortions started before and continued far beyond the time of the accident. There was also a simultaneous and pronounced increase in the number of births during the years subsequent to the accident. Therefore, it seems unlikely that fear of the consequences of radioactive fall-out after the Chernobyl accident resulted in any substantial increase of the number of legal abortions in Sweden.

PIP: After the Chernobyl accident, there was concern about the effects of the accident on pregnancy in Sweden. This concern is addressed by analyzing the trends in legal abortion and births between 1960. Although abortion has been legal since 1975, there is no requirement to report the reason, only the incidence to the National Board of Health on a monthly basis. In 1986 legal abortions totaled 33,124, which was an increase over preceding years. The increase continued up to 1990. July 1986 marked an increase particularly among women 15-25 years, but this increase also appeared in July 1988 and 1989. If Chernobyl was the cause, one would expect a decrease in births, which in fact did not occur. There has been an increase in births and a shift toward higher maternal age. This suggests that younger women are using abortion as birth control. 1986 coincidentally marked a period of change in reproductive behavior. If chernobyl had an effect, then it is expected that it would be short term for abortions and births, with an increase in abortion and a decrease in births; instead, there is a 4-year trend in increased abortions and births. The results of the National Board of Health's inquiry into area-specific rates and reported radioactive fallout for each area showed no differences in trends in abortion rates between areas. This also suggests little influence of Chernobyl on abortion rates. Few studies are available that explore the reasons for pregnancy termination and none were conducted after Chernobyl. In a 1982 Stockholm study, over 50% reported unstable or nonexistent relationships with the father, another 25% reported socioeconomic reasons, and the remainder reported too young age as a reason. It is concluded that there is little evidence to support the position that the Chernobyl accident caused pregnancy termination out of fear and anxiety among Swedish women, even though women in antenatal clinics did express concern about the accident's consequences.