A new study from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and ICES reveals that, despite a global surge in abortion rates, Ontario’s abortion rates remained stable between 2020 and 2022. While countries across the UK and Europe saw a significant rise in abortion rates during this period, Ontario did not follow the same trend. This study highlights how Canada’s robust healthcare policies, particularly those supporting primary care and telemedicine, played a role in maintaining steady abortion rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 2020 to 2022, many countries across the UK and Europe saw a reversal of long-standing declines in abortion rates. For example, in Scotland, England, and Wales, 2022 and 2023 recorded the highest abortion rates ever. This increase followed decades of declines in abortion rates across high-income countries, particularly among younger individuals.
In contrast, Ontario experienced little change in its abortion rates during this period. The study, which analyzed abortion data from 2012 to 2022, found that while the abortion rate slightly increased between 2017 and 2020 after mifepristone became available, it stabilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2022, abortion rates returned to pre-pandemic levels, continuing a gradual upward trend seen prior to the pandemic.
Dr. Laura Schummers, lead author and Assistant Professor of Health Outcomes at UBC, pointed out that Canada’s preparedness to continue abortion services during the pandemic was crucial in maintaining stability. “Canada was well-positioned to seamlessly continue abortion service delivery through the pandemic, with policies in place to support primary care and telemedicine abortion care since 2017,” Schummers explained.
The study also noted significant shifts in the method of abortion. By 2022, more than 50% of abortions in Ontario were medication-based, a sharp increase from previous years. This trend highlights the growing preference for non-surgical abortion methods, which became more accessible with the introduction of mifepristone in 2017.
While the study provides valuable insights, it also had limitations, including the inability to capture the “pregnancy intention” (a person’s desire or plan to become pregnant). As a result, the study may not fully account for underlying trends in managing unintended pregnancies.
Schummers also discussed the potential impact of global sociocultural and policy factors on abortion rates. For example, the recent spike in abortion rates in some countries might be linked to a decline in the use of effective contraception. Misinformation, disinformation, or economic factors could be contributing to this decline. However, Schummers emphasized that Canada’s policies, which improve access to contraception, should mitigate similar trends within the country. With new federal pharmacare legislation providing universal free contraception starting in 2024, Canada could see a decrease in abortion rates over time.
While Ontario’s abortion rates have remained stable, the researchers caution that sociocultural forces driving increased abortion rates elsewhere could eventually influence Canada. They noted that the future trajectory of abortion rates in Canada will depend on a combination of policy changes, access to contraception, and societal factors. As such, it remains to be seen whether the global trends seen from 2020 to 2023 will eventually impact Canadian abortion rates in the coming years.
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