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Liberal abortion laws in Nordic countries lead to decrease, not increase, in procedures, study finds

Sunday 14th 2024 on 23:30 in  
Iceland

Liberal abortion laws have not led to an increase in abortion procedures in Iceland or other Nordic countries. In fact, there has been a decrease in such procedures, especially among young women. About 900 abortions are performed in Iceland annually, most often before the ninth week of pregnancy.

The most common method of abortion is medical, which makes the process similar to a natural miscarriage. Reynir Tómas Geirsson, a former professor and chief physician at the women’s department of the National Hospital, asserts that liberal legislation does not mean that women will increase the number of abortions. On the contrary, they handle it responsibly.

Half a century ago, liberal abortion laws were enacted in Iceland and other Nordic countries. Initially, the number of procedures increased, as is natural when access increases and people stop performing illegal abortions. However, since 1980, the number of abortions has remained steady and, if anything, has decreased, particularly among younger women.

This can be attributed to increased access to contraceptives and emergency contraceptives, along with better diagnosis of natural miscarriages and other abnormal pregnancies. Geirsson believes the majority of the decrease is due to people taking a responsible approach to sexual activity, pregnancy possibilities, and childbearing.

Geirsson adds that when the legislation became even more liberal in Iceland in 2019, it did not lead to an increase in abortion procedures.

Björk Vilhelmsdóttir, a social advisor who worked at the women’s department of the National Hospital, is pleased with the research results. She hopes the findings, published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, will reach as many people as possible, particularly in societies where the right to abortion is restricted.

Vilhelmsdóttir and Geirsson both believe that further improvements can be made by making contraceptives more accessible. Vilhelmsdóttir suggests that it would be a significant step forward if contraceptives were made free in Iceland.