Volume 21 - Article 22 | Pages 647–680  

Rates of induced abortion in Denmark according to age, previous births and previous abortions

By Marie-Louise H. Hansen, Ditte Mølgaard-Nielsen, Lisbeth B. Knudsen, Niels Keiding

Abstract

Background: Whereas the effects of various socio-demographic determinants on a woman’s risk of having an abortion are relatively well-documented, less attention has been given to the effect of previous abortions and births.
Objective: To study the effect of previous abortions and births on Danish women’s risk of an abortion, in addition to a number of demographic and personal characteristics.
Data and methods: From the Fertility of Women and Couples Dataset we obtained data on the number of live births and induced abortions by year (1981-2001), age (16-39), county of residence and marital status. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the influence of the explanatory variables on the probability of having an abortion in a relevant year.
Main findings and conclusion: A woman’s risk of having an abortion increases with the number of previous births and previous abortions. Some interactions were was found in the way a woman’s risk of abortion varies with calendar year, age and parity. The risk of an abortion for women with no children decreases while the risk of an abortion for women with children increases over time. Furthermore, the risk of an abortion decreases with age, but relatively more so for women with children compared to childless women. Trends for teenagers are discussed in a separate section.

Author's Affiliation

• Marie-Louise H. Hansen - Københavns Universitet, Denmark EMAIL
• Ditte Mølgaard-Nielsen - Københavns Universitet, Denmark EMAIL
• Lisbeth B. Knudsen - Aalborg University, Denmark EMAIL
• Niels Keiding - Københavns Universitet, Denmark EMAIL

Other articles by the same author/authors in Demographic Research

Education and second birth rates in Denmark 1981-1994
Volume 17 - Article 8

Modelling regional variation of first-time births in Denmark 1980-1994 by an age-period-cohort model
Volume 13 - Article 23

TFR for males in Denmark: Calculation and tempo-correction
Volume 32 - Article 52

Cause-specific measures of life years lost
Volume 29 - Article 41

Cohort fertility patterns in the Nordic countries
Volume 20 - Article 14

Biological and sociological interpretations of age-adjustment in studies of higher order birth rates
Volume 19 - Article 31

The Fertility Pattern of Twins and the General Population Compared: Evidence from Danish Cohorts 1945-64
Volume 6 - Article 14

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