Educational inequalities in repeat abortion: a longitudinal register study in Finland 1975-2010

Väisänen, Heini (2016) Educational inequalities in repeat abortion: a longitudinal register study in Finland 1975-2010. Journal of Biosocial Science, 48 (6). pp. 820-832. ISSN 0021-9320

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Abstract

The proportion of repeat abortions among all abortions has increased over the last decades in Finland. This study examined the association of education with the likelihood of repeat abortion, and the change in this association over time using reliable longitudinal data. A unique set of register data from three birth cohorts were followed from age 20 to 45, including about 22,000 cases of repeat abortion, and analysed using discrete-time event-history models. Low education was found to be associated with a higher likelihood of repeat abortion. Women with low education had abortions sooner after the preceding abortion, and were more often single, younger and had larger families at the time of abortion than more highly educated women. The educational differences were more significant for later than earlier cohorts. The results show a lack of appropriate contraceptive use, possibly due to lack of knowledge of, or access to, services. There is a need to improve access to family planning services, and contraceptives should be provided free of charge. Register data overcome the common problems of under-reporting of abortion and attrition ensuring the results are reliable, unique and of interest internationally.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJourna...
Additional Information:	© 2016 Cambridge University Press © CC-BY 4.0
Divisions:	Social Policy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Date Deposited:	17 May 2016 09:49
Last Modified:	05 Apr 2024 20:30
Projects:	ES/J00070/1
Funders:	Economic and Social Research Council
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/66530

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