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Induced abortions during COVID-19 in Japan: Deviation from long-term trends in a setting with self-imposed mobility
Kuniaki Ota1, Tsuyoshi Takiuchi2, Tadashi Kimura3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan; Fukushima Medical Center for Children and Women, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Objective:
To assess whether induced abortions in Japan deviated from pre-pandemic trends during FY2020-FY2024 and whether changes coincided with mobility reduction.
Study Design:
National annual induced-abortion counts were analyzed using Poisson log-linear models, with expected FY2020-FY2024 counts projected from FY2011-FY2019.
Results:
Abortions were lower than expected in FY2020-FY2022 (IRR 0.899, 95% CI 0.895-0.903) and remained below expected in FY2023-FY2024 (IRR 0.957, 95% CI 0.950-0.963). Mobility decreased despite non-compulsory measures.
Conclusions:
Induced abortions declined below counterfactual expectations during COVID-19 in Japan and remained below the pre-pandemic trajectory after FY2022.
Clinical Implications:
Induced abortions in Japan remained below expected pre-pandemic trends during COVID-19 and did not fully return to the projected trajectory thereafter, highlighting the need for continued monitoring of abortion trends and equitable access to sexual and reproductive health services during and after large-scale societal disruptions.
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