Switzerland reports increase in abortions

This is reported by the Swiss Federal Statistics Office (FSO).

The most common reason was a physical problem with the mother or child. In a good 60 per cent of the known cases, this was decisive. The second most frequent occurrence was one or more psychosocial motives, which made up a good 30 per cent. In 7 per cent of the pregnancies that were terminated late, the mothers had psychological problems, writes Swiss newspaper Blick.

After the abortion rate fell since 2010, it has increased from 6.2 to 6.8 abortions per 1000 women in 2020, thus equalling the levels of 2010.

The proportion of abortions by women with a migrant background did fall: from 2007 to 2016; these made up more or less half, and their proportion has been falling since then. In 2020, only 38 per cent of abortions were carried out on foreign women living in Switzerland.

For women aged 15 to 19, the drop-out rate remained relatively constant at a low level. It showed no increase compared to the previous year. In total, 6 per cent of all terminations were made to women of this age. In total, 11 interventions in the whole of Switzerland affected people under the age of 15.

Most abortions were performed in the first eight weeks of pregnancy, and 95% of all abortions occurred before the twelfth week of pregnancy. 79% of the terminations were made through medication, and 21% of the terminations were through surgical intervention. In Switzerland, drug abortions increased by 11% in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Abortion in Switzerland is legal during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. It is also permitted with medical indications at any later time.