Why teenage girls choose abortion - Research Paper Example

Teenage abortion has always been a most disputable issue in this contemporary world. According to the recent research done by Teen ShelterOrg, nearly 30 percent of teenage girls, who are pregnant in United States of America, abort their fetus of the body (Statistics in Adolescent Pregnancy by Teen Shelter Org). This paper presents findings of various researchers and provides information on why teenage girls choose abortion. This paper dwells into 3 major issues. Elements Substantiating Teenage Pregnancy Why girls choose abortion Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy & Abortion. By analyzing the results of other researchers and their arguments this paper gives a clear picture on teenage abortion and how to prevent the same. Introduction The practice of abortion, a process of terminating the pregnancy to ensure it does not give birth to child, has been there since 5th century (History of Contraception, Malcom Potts, Martha Campbell). In olden days, ancient people used natural abortion practices when cases involving health complications and emotional immaturity to save a mother’s life (Soranau’s Gynecology) (Bull. Acad. Natl. Med. 171 (8):1027–32). In 21st century, with the increasing urbanization and industrialization, the number of girls, who visit the clinic for abortion, is extremely high. According to the National Abortion Organization, nearly one million teenagers become pregnant each year and 78 percent of these teenage pregnancies are unintended. A practice, which is used to save a mother’s life on olden days, is now became big concern as teenagers started thronging into the clinics because of unwanted pregnancies. There are several reasons behind girls choosing abortion. It is the responsibility of all educated to empower teenage girls to stay away from the activities that helps unwanted pregnancies. As teenagers who are carrying an unwanted pregnancy are visiting clinics without any parental notification for abortion, empowering teenagers regarding the implications of unwanted pregnancy will prevent teenage abortions. Literature Review Teen Abortion has always been most controversial subject in nature. I feel, this is attributable to the well known fact that majority of the people have got different set of beliefs that are inherited from the religion and society. Some people say teenage abortion is wrong but some enunciate it is right under some circumstances. As per the statistics of National Abortion Federation, 80 out of 100 Americans have sex before 20 years of age. The average age of a girl, who loses her virginity is around 17 years. This is the main reason behind the teen abortions in America. There are a very few cases where girls under 15 years of age become pregnant due to forceful sex and they will not have any option but to choose abortion. Teen abortion was legal in all states before 1991. The law in a very few number of states demands parental permission or notification before a teen is going to be aborted. Places like Minnesota, teenage abortions were declined without parental notification or permission before 1991 (American Journal of Public Health, March 91). To reduce the teenage abortion percentages, nearly 29 states had ordained parental permission to do an abortion in 1992. Thanks to the law, teenage abortions have started declining in USA since 1992. Source: Jones and Kooistra K, Abortion incidence and services in the United States, 2008, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2011, 43(1):41–50. Elements Substantiating Teenage Pregnancy Lack of sex education (Ross DA, 2008) is the primary reason behind the teenage pregnancy. As sexual education was not included in the school curriculum, teens do not know contraception and prevention of unwanted pregnancy (Ioannidi‐ Kapolou, 2004). Lack of supervision of parents’ or guardians’ on their children leads to teenage pregnancy. As per the research, most of the girls who carry unwanted pregnancy are raised under single-parent family (Social Exclusion Unit 1999). Curiosity towards sex is another reason. Most of the times, boys exhorts teenage girls and ask them to involve in sex. Open culture in developed countries like America offers freedom to interact or spend good amount of time with opposite sex and that may lead to sex. Having numerous sex partners and unsafe sex activity is also one of the major reasons for teenage pregnancy (Tsai and Wong 2003). Apparently, if parents take a little bit more care on the teenagers, the teenage pregnancies will decline in future and so teenage abortions. Formal sex education, which can increase the knowledge of a teen, would also help in reducing the teen abortions and health transmitted diseases (Health Science Journal, Issue-2). Why Girls Choose Teenage Abortions Majority of the teen girls realize that their life will be completely changed if they deliver a baby. As most of the abortion cases are unwanted pregnancies, girls will just try to maintain the secrecy over the unwanted pregnancy and abortion. Besides that, they will understand that they are immature to deliver a child or look after a child at the school going age. Teen girls do not want their studies get interrupted as they understand that lack of education will limit their earning potential, which subsequently make them to grow in poverty. Moreover, the society, friends, classmates and relatives will look at the teenage girl, who carries an unwanted pregnancy, in a negative manner. To avoid all these negative impacts on life, a teenage girl choose to go for an abortion rather than giving birth to a child. Teenage pregnancies affect girls physically and psychologically (Tsai and Wong 2003) as it is the most difficult issue to deal with. Even parents may not able to decide on whether to do for abortion or not. A lot of thought process will go into the situation and they come up with a conclusion that abortion is the best choice to avoid all these problems. Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy and Abortion Prevention of teenage unwanted pregnancy certainly reduces number of teenage abortions. It is very important to run health promotion strategies and educate teenage girls regarding the prevention of teenage pregnancy (Carter 1995). Perhaps, any health promotional program will not be succeed unless it is done by numerous of volunteers and representatives that educate young people regarding the consequences of teenage pregnancy (Watson 2003). So, a multi-tasking group which is dedicated to run these programs will help. According to Carter (2005), integrated nurse interventions would also help in dealing with teenage pregnancies and abortions. Integrated interventions are formed by different kinds of practitioners who are well versed in different medical services. Implementation of strategies at national level, where national governments will involve and run the programs, needs to be given high priority. Government has to fund for several pilot programs that supposed run in the states where teenage pregnancy issues are high (Limmer 2005). These pilot programs will not only help proving information teenage pregnancy prevention but also aimed at educating the teen mothers who are low in self esteem and psychologically deprived (Hawksley, 2006). Professionals, who follow evidence based practice (Jolley 2001), will help in educating the teenagers as these professionals will be equipped with up-to-date knowledge. Schools, nurses, volunteers, parents, social groups, integrated agencies and government need to work together to educate teenagers regarding teen pregnancy and implications of teen pregnancy. It’s when we prevent teen pregnancies, teen abortions will be declined. Conclusion Teenage people are choosing abortions because social exclusion, which limits their earning potential and ultimately leads to poverty (Social Exclusion Unit, 1999). Poor education, unemployment and financial problems are also said to be the more reasons for teen abortions. Prevention of teen pregnancy is the only way to eradicate teen abortions. As it is medically and scientifically proved that teen mothers will suffer from physical and psychological problems, better educate them to take the preventive methods Though, teenage abortion rates are declined in the last decade with the intervention of schools, social groups and government, there is a long way to go to make it zero. If we can empower teenage girls to stay away from the activities that put them under the risk of unwanted pregnancy, we are almost reached our goal, Prevention of Teenage Pregnancy. References American Journal of Public Health, March 91 Carter K. (1995) An integrated approach. Nursing Times 91 (22) pp 6 Health Science Journal (Issue-2) http://www.hsj.gr/volume1/issue2/issue02_rev02.pdf History of Contraception, Malcom Potts, Martha Campbell Impact of the Minnesota Parental Notification Law on Abortions and Births," March 1991 Limmer M. (2005) Keeping the needs of teenage parents at the heart of services The Journal of The Royal Society for the promotion of Health 125 (5), pp 214 Soranau’s Gynecology, Bull. Acad. Natl. Med. 171 (8):1027–32 Statistics in Adolescent Pregnancy by Teen Shelter Org Tsai Y.  F. and Wong T.K.  (2003)  Strategies  for  resolving  aborigininal adolescent pregnancy  in eastern Taiwan Journal of Advanced Nursing 41 (4), pp 351‐357 Read More