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Reduction of abortions following emergency contraception?. Dan Apter dan.apter@vaestoliitto.fi The Sexual Health Clinic Family Federation of Finland. SEXUAL HEALTH FOR ADOLESCENTS TODAY. 1. Recognizing sexual rights 2. Sexuality education and counseling
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Reduction of abortions following emergency contraception? Dan Apter dan.apter@vaestoliitto.fi The Sexual Health Clinic Family Federation of Finland
SEXUAL HEALTH FOR ADOLESCENTS TODAY 1. Recognizing sexual rights 2. Sexuality education and counseling 3. Confidential high quality services
Efficacy of emergency contraception WHO, Lancet Dec 2002, 360:1803
Number Needed to Treat • Reported expected number of pregnancies 7%, observed number < 2%. • About 5% reduction in the number of unintended pregnancies • NNT = 20 for unintended pregnancy • Every second unintended pregnancy would end in abortion ??? • Reduction in number of abortions 2.5% of EC users, thus NNT for abortion = 40 • If EC use 40 000/yr, there are 1000 less abortions • However, among EC users, expected number of pregnancies is likely much lower, and accordingly, prevented fraction lower and NNT larger
Pregnancy rate and OC use in 18 and 16 yr old girls in Finland E. Kosunen, 1996
Abortions and deliveries per 1000 girls 15-19 year old in Finland 1975 to 2002
Recent factors affecting sexual health • Economical depression • Population responsibility led to the close down of contraceptive counseling centers • School health services cut • Sexuality education in schools became an optional subject in 1994, but will be reintroduced as obligatory in 2004 • Price of OC:s increased, OC scare in October 1995 • The local municipalities implement health care policy independently, even without necessary qualifications
Number of abortions 1998-2002 in the age group 15-19 EC became OTC
Contraceptive use in Finland • One million women 15-45 yrs= 13 million cycles • 12 million condoms sold/year (20% use, 2.6 million of cycles, 5 condoms/cycle?!) • 230 000 women use OC = 3 million cycles • 75 000 EC packages sold in 2002= 2.5% of OC cycles = 0.5% of total cycles
Effects of EC depend on • knowledge of EC, attitudes • availability (prescription needed, price, health care system) • extent of use of modern contraception, e.g. minor effect among iud users, possibly high among non users and condom users
Conclusions Total effect of EC rather small, but can be high in subpopulations such as adolescents