[Few teenage pregnancies in Sweden--a comparison between five Western industrialized countries. Support from and attitudes in the society explain the differences].

Cross-national comparisons of teenage sexual and reproductive behavior in five Western industrialized countries show vast differences in teenage pregnancy rates and birthrates. The lowest rates are found in Sweden and France, moderate rates in Canada and Great Britain, and the highest in the USA. Since age and frequency of sexual activity are similar across countries, the variations in pregnancy rate reflect young people's motivation and ability to prevent unwanted pregnancies.