Background: The aims of this study were to assess i) the geographical variation in the prevalence of request for induced abortion after 12th week of pregnancy and ii) the geographical variation in the probability of refusal of abortion request for other reasons than foetal defects.
Material and methods: All medical records regarding request for induced abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy during the period 1996-97 in Norway were collected in 1998 by the National Board of Health.
Results: There were a total of 1,061 requests for induced abortion, of whom 41 were withdrawn. 303 requests were based on foetal defects. Of the remaining 717 requests, which were included in the analysis, 144 (20%) were refused. The counties Vest-Agder, Møre og Romsdal and Finnmark had the lowest prevalence of induced abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy (< 4 per 10,000 women, 15-45 years of age, during 1996-97) and Oslo, Buskerud and Sør-Trøndelag had the highest (> 10 per 10,000 women). Hospitals in the south-western part of Norway (Vest-Agder/Aust-Agder/Rogaland) were 7.8 (95% confidence intervall 3.5-17.2) times more likely to refuse the requests as compared to hospitals in Østfold/Oslo/Akershus.
Interpretation: Cultural differences within Norway may explain, though not excuse, the observed geographical differences in the practice of the abortion act.