[Contraceptive habits among women applying for abortion]

A total of 589 women applying for termination of pregnancy (46% of the total number of applicants during a one-year period) completed a questionnaire concerning female anatomy, sexual information and contraceptive habits. Of these, 415 women had their pregnancy terminated at Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen (high abortion rate) and 174 in northern Jutland (low abortion rate). The two groups did not differ considerably in their replies. Mean age at the first coitus was on average 15.8 years, where a total of 36% had not used any contraception. Among those who were applying for termination of pregnancy, 34.1% had not used contraception, 13.4% had used unsafe methods and 23% had not used the method correctly, leaving a total of 60% at high risk of pregnancy. Information about contraception was in most cases given by the general practitioner (38%). An increased number of women with a high level of sexual knowledge from Copenhagen had less frequently used contraception as compared with those in Jutland. In conclusion the high discrepancy in abortion rate among the two areas can not be explained by differences in contraceptive habits.