Barbara Mihevc Ponikvar
Speeches:
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Modern contraception use and induced abortion rate in Slovenia
Barbara Mihevc Ponikvar, Sonja Tomšič National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia - barbara.mihevc@nijz.si
Objectives: Knowledge about contraception, access to contraception and quality of family planning services influence induced abortion rate. With this analysis we want to present the current situation and the trends in induced abortions rate and contraception use in Slovenia. Methods: For this analysis we used the data from the national Information System on Fetal Deaths and Database on prescription drugs. These Information Systems contain data on all fetal deaths and all drugs that are prescribed in Slovenia. Results: Hormonal contraception is nowadays the most widespread form of contraception in Slovenia. Throughout the last decade the use remained rather stable but with changes in different age groups. An increase was observed in women aged 15-24 years and a decrease in the age group 30-39 years. In 2012 162 per 1000 women in the childbearing period used this contraception, most prevalently in the age group 20-24 years. 94 % of prescribed hormonal contraception was in the form of a contraceptive pill. Among contraceptive pills 92 % were combined hormonal contraceptives, most commonly with a combination of ethinylestradiol and drospirenone. Intrauterine contraception is gaining in importance in the last decade. The induced abortion rate in Slovenia reached its peak in 1982, since then the rate is steadily declining. In 2012 it was 8.7 per 1000. The highest abortion rate is among women in the age group 25-34 years. There are differences in abortion rates between regions and between women from different educational groups. Conclusions: In the last few decades patterns of use of contraceptive methods have changed significantly in Slovenia. The use of hormonal contraception is still increasing in younger women, but has fallen in women older than 30 years, which can be explained by increasing use of intrauterine contraception. Abortion rates have been declining since 1982 and reflect good availability and use of modern contraception.