TEENAGE ABORTION A RESOURCE FOR TEACHERS +27715328866 www.drwilliam.net

(3)TEENAGE
ABORTION
A RESSOURCE http://www.drwilliam.netFOR TEACHERSS
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Many websites providing abortion information are either pro-life or prochoice.
This website is neither pro-choice nor pro-life, but merely a
Presentation of factual information. I have attempted to present the
Information on this topic clearly, objectively, and accurately.
Background on Abortion Law
On January 22, 1973, Congress granted the right to an abortion to be
Left between a woman and her physician. This case was the landmark
Roe v. Wade decision. Roe v. Wade shifted the power from the states over
To the Federal government, eliminating the variety of laws carried out by
Individual states. Twenty eight years after the landmark case, abortions
Are still made available to women of all ages, including adolescents.
For more information about the abortion laws see

Today, about 33 percent of all teen pregnancies end in abortion (2) Of
The 861,789 abortions reported in 1999, over half were to women under
The age of 25 (2). Teenagers accounted for 19 percent of all abortions, or
About 172,357 (2).
Younger teenagers are more likely to have their pregnancy end in
Abortion compared with older teenagers. Girls under the age of 15 years
Old have the highest abortion ratio being 708 abortions per every 1000
Births of women under the age of 15 (1). The abortion ratio tends to
Decrease as the teenager gets older. This indicates that an 18 year old
Woman who becomes pregnant is more likely to follow through with the
Pregnancy than 16 year old woman.
Yet, teenagers that are older, specifically 18 and 19 years old, have the
Highest demand for abortion services. They alone demand 60% of all
Teenage abortions (1). Teenagers under the age of 15 only account for
3.5 percent of teenage abortions. This information tells us that older
Teenagers demand more abortions because comparatively, older teens
Have a higher rate of pregnancy. Therefore, they have a higher number
Of abortions.
Race and Ethnicity
African American and Hispanic teenagers have higher pregnancy, birth
And abortion rates. The rates of pregnancy, birth and abortion rates are
Based per 1,000 women aged 15-19, by race and ethnicity. In 2000, the
Pregnancy rate of black women was 153. The birth rate was 77 and the
Abortion rate was 55.
In the same year, the pregnancy rate of Hispanic women was 138. The
Birth rate was 87 and the abortion rate was 30. Non-Hispanic white
Teenagers had the lowest rates of the race and ethnicity group.
White teens pregnancy rates were 55. The birth rate was 32, and the
Abortion rate was 15(1).
Reduction in Teenage Abortion
Abortion rates among women under the age of 20 have decreased
Gradually since 1972. In 1972 it was reported that 32.6 of all abortions
Were obtained by women in their teens (2). That percentage dropped on
Average 3.7 percent as time went on. By 1999, 19.2 percent of all
Abortions were performed on teenagers (2). The declines in the abortion
Ratio and rate over time may reflect multiple factors. Studies show a
Decrease in the number of unintended pregnancies. It may also be due
To changes in our education programs in schools, including an increased
Use of contraceptives. Also, it may be due to a reduced access to abortion
Serves, including the passage of abortion laws that affect adolescents.
What are the Risks and Benefits Of?
Teenage Abortion??
Physical risks
• Breast Cancer. The risk of breast cancer almost doubles after one
Abortion and rises even further with two or more abortions.
• Cervical Cancer. Women who have had one abortion face a 2.3
Relative risk of cervical cancer, compared to women who have never
Had an abortion.
• Placenta Prevail. Abortion increases the risk of placenta prevail in
Later pregnancies
Emotional risks
Many women rationalize the need for an abortion, repressing any initial
Feelings of guilt. As a result, emotional reactions to abortion are delayed,
Sometimes for as long as five to 10 years.
• Sad mood
• Sudden and uncontrollable crying episodes
• Deterioration of self-concept
• Sleep, appetite and sexual disturbances
• Reduced motivation
• Disruption in interpersonal relationships
• Extreme guilt and anxiety
• Psychological "numbing"
• Depression and thoughts of suicide
Benefits
Many teenagers choose abortion for a variety of reasons. They are not
Ready for parenting, and feel that abortion is their best option. Studies
Have shown that:
• Future prospects for teenagers decline significantly if they have a
Baby
• Teen pregnancy is closely linked to poverty and single
• Children of teens often have insufficient health care
Preventing Teenage Pregnancy
Despite the recently declining teen pregnancy rates, 34% of teenage girls
Get pregnant at least once before they reach age 20, resulting in more
Than 820,000 teen pregnancies a year. At this level, the United States
Has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the fully industrialized world.
High teen birth rates are an important concern because teen mothers
And their babies face increased risks to their physical and mental health.
Teen mothers are more likely to drop out of high school than girls who
Delay childbearing. (3)
Putting What Works to Work
(PWWTW) is a project of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy funded, in part, by the Canters for Disease Control and
Prevention. Through PWWTW, the Campaign will translate research on
Teen pregnancy prevention and related issues into user-friendly materials
For practitioners, policymakers, and advocates.
http://www.drwilliam.net

What Does This Mean For Teachers??
With teenage pregnancy comes teenage abortion. It is one of the many
Options that teenagers have when it comes to becoming pregnant. As
Teachers, we will be facing these issues with our students. Because
Abortion is such a controversial issue; it is not pushed by our education
System as the preferred choice or a wrong choice. But, information of the
Procedure is still necessary to communicate to the students as an
Existing option. We cannot make the decisions for our students. Their
Decisions will be based on their own values and believes. It is our
Responsibility to educate our students about sexual education.
Students cite teachers and counsellors as second only
To their families as the most reliable sources of sexrelated
Information. (4)
Schools play a vital role in the lives of millions of children each year. By
Promoting educational success, developing skills that help build a
Positive future, and by helping young people to feel a strong sense of
Purpose, schools can help strengthen young people’s motivation to delay
Pregnancy and parenthood.
We must provide students with guidance if they do become pregnant.
They need to be educated on their options for their future. Here are
Some links to help guide teachers provide adequate information to their
Students.
Abortion:
http://www.drwilliam.net