Summary: Risk of Death is Higher After an Induced Abortion

In Finland, mortality rates after an induced abortion were higher from all external causes compared with the mortality among non-pregnant women.

• In Finland, the National Register on Induced Abortions collects data on all induced abortions performed in the country. According to Finland legislation, a permit is needed to terminate a pregnancy, and a notification that a termination has been performed must be sent to the Finland National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health within one month of the procedure. Researchers have examined 212 pregnancy-associated deaths in Finland between 1987 and 2000 and found that 43.4% (92 total) of the deaths occurred following an induced abortion. The study admitted that it is unlikely that induced abortion itself causes death due to injury, but that it is more likely that induced abortions and deaths due to injury share common risk factors. However, mortality rates after an induced abortion were higher from all external causes compared with the mortality among non-pregnant women.¹

¹Injury Deaths, Suicides, and Homicides Associated with Pregnancy, Finland 1987-2000, European Journal of Public Health, July 28, 2005.