Contraceptive behaviour of Norwegian adolescents

This paper describes contraceptive practices among Norwegian adolescents. The data stem from a survey of a random sample of 3000 adolescents aged 17 - 19, yielding a response rate of 60.9%. On the most recent occasion when intercourse took place, every fifth adolescent did not use any contraception; one in three used a condom and approximately 40% reported having used the pill. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that among both girls and boys non-use of contraception increased with alcohol consumption prior to intercourse. Among girls utilization of contraception was positively associated with educational aspirations whereas non-utilization was associated with number of sexual partners during the previous year. Among both boys and girls condom use declined with increased age, but was positively associated with both increased age at first intercourse and use of a condom at first experience of intercourse. Use of a condom most frequently occurred in relationships which had lasted for a period between 1 week and 6 months. Condom use was not associated with intake of alcohol prior to intercourse. A total of 33.4% of the girls and 43.3% of the boys reported that they had engaged in casual sex. Approximately one in four used a condom on the most recent occasion, whereas approximately four out of 10 did not use any contraception. It is concluded that a substantial proportion of adolescents indulge in high-risk practices both for unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Moreover, despite the more prominent place given to matters of sexuality in schools and health centres during the last few decades, the proportion of non-users of contraception appear not to have substantially decreased. It is, therefore, clearly important to develop health promotion activities capable of reaching those groups of adolescents who fail to use contraception.