Abortions (discontinued), 2002, preliminary figures

The county of Finnmark had the highest abortion rate for teenagers in 2002. The data for Finnmark for the 4^{t h} quarter are still not available. The 2002 figures for Finnmark are therefore estimated on basis of the figures for the 1^{s t} to the 3^{r d} quarters and estimates for the 4^{t h} quarter based on former experiences. The figures for Finnmark are therefore uncertain. For national figures this condition has less consequences.

The lowest level of abortions was registered in the counties Vest-Agder and Rogaland in the south. The level in southern Norway was only half of what was experienced in the north. Oslo experienced the largest decrease in teenager abortion during the last years is. Until the mid 1990s Oslo was the county with the highest abortion rate among teenagers. In 2002, this level was only 10 per cent over the national average.

Independent of age, Oslo had the highest abortion rate among the counties, 17.1 induced abortions per 1000 females 15-49 years, compared with 12.6 for the national average. The abortion rate is also high in Troms and Finnmark. The counties Vest-Agder and Aust-Agder in the south experienced the lowest abortion rate, half of the level in Oslo and the two northern counties.

In 2002, 15 000 petitions were made for abortion. In 13 500 of these petitions the outcome was induced abortion. In total 14 400 of the petitions came within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, which is the period of self-determination for the woman. From the 600 petitions handled in an abortion committee, almost 500 resulted in induced abortion. The rest were rejected or were not carried out by other reasons. About 44 per cent of the petitions for abortion granted by a committee had social reasons. About 35 per cent was made due to serious risk for the health of the fetus.

Tables:

• Table 1 Induced abortions by woman's age. 1979-2002
• Table 2 Induced abortions by woman's county of residence 1980- 2002
• Table 3 Induced abortions, per 1 000 women 15-49 year, by woman's county of residence. 1980- 2002
• Table 4 Induced abortions among teenagers (-19 years) by woman's county of residence 1999-2002
• Table 5 Induced commitee treats abortions, by paragrafs. 1999-2002
• Table 6 Induced abortions by period of gestation and the womans age. 2002
• Table 7 Induced abortions by period of gestation and sort of decision. 2002
• Table 8 Abortions by woman`s cohabitional status and county of residence, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 og 2002
• Table 9 Induced abortions by woman´s county of residence, and part of town in Oslo 1999- 2002
• Table 10 Induced abortions within 9 weeks and use of medicaments