CONTRACEPTION IN THE NETHERLANDS - THE LOW ABORTION RATE EXPLAINED

This article gives a review of the main factors that are related to th e low abortion rate in the Netherlands. Attention is payed to figures on abortion and the use of contraceptive methods since the beginning o f the 1960s up to the end of the 1980s. The strong acceptance of famil y planning was influenced by changing values regarding sexuality and t he family, the transition from an agricultural to a modem industrial s ociety, rapid economic growth, declining influence of the churches on daily life, introduction of modern mass media and the increased genera l educational level. The introduction of modem contraceptives (mainly the pill and contraceptive sterilization) was stimulated by a strong v oluntary family planning movement, fear for overpopulation, a positive role of GPs, and the public health insurance system. A reduction of u nwanted pregnancies has been accomplished through successful strategie s for the prevention of teenage pregnancy (including sex education, op en discussions on sexuality in mass media, educational campaigns and l ow barrier services) as well as through wide acceptance of sterilizati on. The Dutch experience with family planning shows the following char acteristics: a strong wish to reduce reliance on abortion, ongoing sex ual and contraceptive education related to the actual experiences of t he target groups, and low barrier family planning services.