Medication abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic in France: A research based on the French national health insurance database.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

During the COVID-19 pandemic in France, abortion was recognized as an essential service that cannot be delayed, and such care was therefore presumed to be maintained. The aim is to analyze the changes in the practice of abortion in 2020 to identify the consequences of the two lockdowns and the effects of the extension of the legal time limit.

Methods

We analyzed the data collected by the French national health insurance system, which covers 99% of the population. All women who had an elective abortion, either surgical or with medication, in France in 2019 and 2020 were included in the study. Trend changes in abortions were analyzed by comparing the ratio of the weekly number of abortions in 2020 with the weekly number in 2019.

Results

Both 2020 lockdowns we

SUBMITTER: Chaput J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10849394 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature