[Induced abortions in teenagers]. / Svangerskapsavbrudd hos tenåringer.

PIP: In an editorial comment on an article entitled Induced Abortions in Teenagers, it is pointed out that Norway has the highest abortion rate in Scandinavia for women between 15-19 and that the rate has been rising in Norway while decreasing in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. Abortion is a preventable threat to health. Teenagers should be encouraged to postpone intercourse and the use of oral contraceptives, and this advice should be coupled with discussions on sexuality in general. Pregnancy among teenagers is often the result of a transitory relationship, and teenagers should be encouraged to learn the techniques of self control to gain enough confidence to say no to sex they do not desire. 1 study showed that 61% of women seeking abortion had not used any contraceptive at the time of conception. A marketing approach is needed to make use of condoms obligatory in sexual relationships among teenagers. Although condoms are an imperfect contraceptive, improper use is possible the most important cause of failure both for pregnancies and HIV infection. Condoms should be made easily available from machines installed in suitable places and instruction in proper use of condoms should be made a part of normal sex education. School authorities in cooperation with teachers and parents have clear responsibility to improve guidance and instruction in contraception.^ieng

[Research activities and research interest among female general practitioners. Why so few, when so many are interested?]. / Forskningsaktivitet og forskningslyst blant kvinnelige allmennpraktikere. Hvorfor så få, når så mange har lyst?

331 (54%) of Norways 609 female general practitioners responded to a questionnaire about their research experience, interest in research on general practice and the barriers experienced to doing research. 41 were actively engaged in research, five at a Ph D level. 38 had completed research earlier. 27 had collected material without publishing any results and were not actively engaged in research at the time of the investigation. 223 were interested in doing research if the conditions could be adapted to their needs. Half the respondents regarded caring for the family and professional strains at work as barriers to research. It is necessary to systematically recruit female general practitioners to research in order to enrich research on general practice by female perspectives and experience, and in order to influence the development of methods and the areas of research.

[Occurrence of senile dementia among elderly in need of support in the municipality of Grimstad]. / Forekomst av aldersdemens blant hjelptrengende eldre i Grimstad kommune.

The background for this study is the common belief in the community of Grimstad that aluminium is related to dementia; the high aluminium content in the local water supply is an ongoing source of concern. In this study we show that the prevalence of dementia among elderly in Grimstad is not higher than in the city of Bergen. We also discuss the demands the community must meet to care for the growing population of demented elderly.

Fibromyalgia--a new cause for disability pension.

Fibromyalgia is a condition under dispute. Accepted by some as a major step forward in understanding some of the patients with widespread muscular pain, looked upon as a confusing side step by others. In 1988 fibromyalgia was by far the most frequent single diagnosis as a reason for disability pension in Norway. Disability statistics however show big differences between counties. Two neighbouring counties had among the lowest and the highest incidence of disability pensioners with the diagnosis fibromyalgia. New pensioners with fibromyalgia and some closely related diagnoses have been studied during the year 1988 by means of reading the insurance records. It became apparent that the difference between the two counties with respect to the incidence of fibromyalgia as a cause of disability pension could be explained by differences in diagnostic setting by the doctors and difference in the assessment from the insurance system, rather than real differences in morbidity pattern. Complaints from the musculoskeletal system is frequent and increasing in the population both as a reason for sick leave and disability pension. Whether this complicated and challenging situation is made more easy to handle by defining a subgroup of those persons as having "fibromyalgia" is questioned.