Introduction: the Nordic setting

The populations in the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – are well known for being open about sexual topics, for the widespread use of contraceptives and for a somewhat pragmatic attitude in this respect. Non-marital sexual activity is generally accepted, and cohabitation is a more common family form for young people than marriage. In recent years, more than half of first-born babies in Denmark were born into a cohabiting family.

The acceptance of both non- and pre-marital sexual activity is concomitant to the acceptance of adolescent sexuality – at least above the age of sexual consent which is 15 in Denmark and 16 in Norway. Young people are expected to act like responsible adults with regard to their sexual and reproductive behaviour. In other words, they are expected to use contraceptives and delay pregnancy until they are ready for parenthood, that is when the conditions of educational attainment, economic independence and personal maturity are met.

Sex education is part of the school syllabus and includes information on how to use contraceptives (David et al, 1990). Condoms are easily available from chemists and supermarkets while oral contraceptives require a medical prescription. In Norway, condoms have been provided free of charge to young people under the age of 20 since 1999 as part of the governmental action plan to reduce unwanted pregnancies and the need for abortion and the strategy to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Oral contraceptives have been free of charge for women between 16 and 20 years of age since 2002 and Norway was also among one of the first countries worldwide to allow the morning-after pill over the counter in 2002 (Austveg and Sundby, 2005). For both girls and boys, the mean age at first sexual intercourse is around 17 years in both Denmark and Norway, although slightly higher for boys in Norway (Knudsen et al, 2003). The mean age at first birth has progressively increased since the late 1960s, when women had their first child in their early 20s compared with an average of 30 years in 2005. Delayed family formation is often interpreted as a consequence of young people's wish to complete their education and establish themselves in the labour market before having children.