[Abortion among young women--the importance of family environment factors and social class].
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to investigate possible associations between social background, other aspects of childhood environment and induced abortion among young women.


METHODS
Norwegian girls (N = 2,198), comprising a representative sample, were followed up through three data collections from they were in their teens in 1992 till they were young adult women (20 - 27 years) seven years later. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and the analyses were conducted by Cox regression. The response rate for the first data collection was 97%. The cumulative response rate over all three data collections was 69 %.


RESULTS
In young adulthood we uncovered a steady reduction of induced abortion rates with increasing educational level. Women who had grown up in Northern Norway had higher rates than other women. There was a lower risk for induced abortion when parents were well educated and had fairly good jobs. Further, there were associations to parental divorce, weak parental monitoring and parental alcohol abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
A host of socioeconomic factors are associated with abortion risk. We need more thorough knowledge about these factors. We can, however, conclude that preventive efforts in this area should be targeted towards groups with risk factors.
Pedersen
Willy
W
Institutt for sosiologi og samfunnsgeografi, Universitetet i Oslo, Postboks 1096 Blindern, 0317 Oslo. villy.pedersen@sosiologi.uio.no
Samuelsen
Sven Ove
SO
Eskild
Anne
A
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires