Studiens syfte var att undersöka vilka sociala och psykologiska faktorer som kan vara av betydelse för unga kvinnors beslut till abort, samt studera deras upplevelser i samband med aborten. En kunskapsöversikt med kvalitativ metod har genomförts. Det empiriska materialet har bestått av 9 vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultatet visar att samhällsnormer och värderingar, relationer till partner, föräldrar och vänner samt personliga värderingar och graden av egen medvetenhet är av betydelse för beslutet om abort. Kvinnornas sätt att förhålla sig till graviditeten, föreställning av fostret, samt mentalt stöd från närstående påverkade deras upplevelser av aborten. En viktig slutsats är att det bör strävas efter ett mer öppet och accepterande klimat i samhället gentemot unga gravida kvinnor. Utökat stöd och tydlig, objektiv information om kvinnans eget val vid ungdomsmottagningar skulle kunna leda till att unga gravida kvinnor ges större möjlighet att fatta självständiga beslut. / The aim of this study was to investigate the social and psychological factors that may be of importance for young women's decisions leading to abortion, and their experience from induced abortion. A knowledge review using the qualitative method of research with empirical information collected from 9 scientific articles. The result shows that social norms and values, relationships with partners, parents and friends, personal values and their degree of self-awareness are of importance for young women's decision on abortion. Women's ways of relating to the pregnancy and depicting the fetus as well as having mental support from close relatives affected their experiences of the abortion. An important conclusion is that a more open and accepting climate in society towards young pregnant women, together with mental support and objective information about women’s own choice in youth clinics, could lead to a greater opportunity for young pregnant women to make independent decisions.

<p>The overall aim of this thesis was to inestigate Swedish adolescents' perceptions and behaviours regarding sexual risk taking. Specific objectives were to explore teenagers' perceptions of contraceptive use, unintended pregnancy, and abortion; teenage girls' experiences of decision making process and support connected to abortion; and male adolescents' perceptions of sexual risk taking and barriers to practicing safe sex. Another objective was to evaluate the effect of advance provision of emergency contraceptive pills to teenage girls. The methodologies included focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and a randomized controlled trial. </p><p>Among the adolescents in our studies, teenage parenthood was generally viewed as a "catastrophe", and the majority expressed supportive attitudes towards abortion (studies I-IV). Occasions of failure to use contraceptives were common, especially when sex was unplanned (studies I-V). Pregnancy prevention was perceived as the woman's responsibility. However, many girls were reluctant about using homonal contraceptives due to worries about negative side effects (I, III). Initiating condom use was difficult for girls, as well as for boys, for a number of reasons (I-IV): fear of ruining an intimate situation, associations with disease, distrust, pleasure reduction, and (for the boys) the fear of loosing one's erection. Males generally perceived personal and partner-related risks connected to unprotected intercourse as low. Few males were worried that an unintended pregnancy would be carried to term, and the majority would urge the girl towards abortion if she seemed ambivalent (II, IV). Girls viewed the abortion decision as a natural, yet difficult choice, strongly influenced by attitudes of partners, parents, peers and societal norms (III). Teenage girls provided with emergency contraceptive pills in advance used it more frequently and sooner after unprotected intercourse compared with controls, without jeopardising regular contraceptive use (V).</p>

The overall aim of this thesis was to inestigate Swedish adolescents' perceptions and behaviours regarding sexual risk taking. Specific objectives were to explore teenagers' perceptions of contraceptive use, unintended pregnancy, and abortion; teenage girls' experiences of decision making process and support connected to abortion; and male adolescents' perceptions of sexual risk taking and barriers to practicing safe sex. Another objective was to evaluate the effect of advance provision of emergency contraceptive pills to teenage girls. The methodologies included focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and a randomized controlled trial. Among the adolescents in our studies, teenage parenthood was generally viewed as a "catastrophe", and the majority expressed supportive attitudes towards abortion (studies I-IV). Occasions of failure to use contraceptives were common, especially when sex was unplanned (studies I-V). Pregnancy prevention was perceived as the woman's responsibility. However, many girls were reluctant about using homonal contraceptives due to worries about negative side effects (I, III). Initiating condom use was difficult for girls, as well as for boys, for a number of reasons (I-IV): fear of ruining an intimate situation, associations with disease, distrust, pleasure reduction, and (for the boys) the fear of loosing one's erection. Males generally perceived personal and partner-related risks connected to unprotected intercourse as low. Few males were worried that an unintended pregnancy would be carried to term, and the majority would urge the girl towards abortion if she seemed ambivalent (II, IV). Girls viewed the abortion decision as a natural, yet difficult choice, strongly influenced by attitudes of partners, parents, peers and societal norms (III). Teenage girls provided with emergency contraceptive pills in advance used it more frequently and sooner after unprotected intercourse compared with controls, without jeopardising regular contraceptive use (V).