Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on abortions and births in Sweden: a mixed-methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Although considered an essential service by the WHO, there are indications that access to induced abortion care has been restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives

To investigate if the number of induced abortions and ongoing pregnancies changed during the first pandemic wave of COVID-19 in 2020 compared with recent years prior to the pandemic and explore possible reasons for the findings.

Design

Convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Collection of quantitative data from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and the Swedish Pregnancy Register, and qualitative data from interviews.

Setting and time period

National data on abortions (January 2018-June 2020) and births (January 2018-March 2021). Interviews performed at the main

SUBMITTER: Rydelius J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8882666 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature