Reducing unwanted pregnancies in Greenland.
OBJECTIVE
In 2002 the number of births in Greenland was 940 and the number of abortions 821. The Home Rule Government in Greenland and PAARISA, The Department of Health (Ministry of Health) have the goal to reduce the abortion rate in Greenland with 50% within the next 5 years. In spring 2003 an internal campaign was carried out in 8 communities/hospitals: Ittoqqortoormiit, Upernavik, Ilulissat, Aasiaat, Maniitsoq, Paamiut, Narsaq and Qaqortoq. The aim of the campaign was to recognize the problems and wishes for the future effort from the perspective of professionals (health professionals, teachers, preventive workers).


METHODS
Descriptive analyses of possibilities and barriers among professionals and lay people.


METHODS
Participating observations, individual and group interviews.


RESULTS
Though there are local variations, many problems are identical in the different communities. The general problems are related to collaboration, sexual supervision, education and mediation, contraceptive methods, access to contraceptive methods and moral standards in communities and the society in general.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased collaboration between professionals, lay people and key persons in the community; improved quality and focus on sexual education; awareness on contraceptive methods used; new strategies in access to (desirable) condoms and increased focus on the problems related to unwanted pregnancies in society.
Meldgaard
Susanne
S
PAARISA Department of Prevention, Directorate of Health, Nuuk, Greenland. s_meldgaard@mail.tele.dk
D017280:Condoms / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005260:Female; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted