Abortion is an extremely contentious issue for many people in the U.S. and around the
world, many of whom want to see a world with few abortions.
Luckily, science is on the case.
Hey there countrywomen and countrymen, Trace here for DNews.
Near the end of January, President Trump signed an Executive Order reinstating something called
the “Mexico City Policy,” or “Global Gag Rule,” blocking U.S. foreign aid to
any organization performing, advising on, or endorsing abortion as a method of family
planning.
It was first signed by former President Reagan.
Depending on the administration, the rule comes and goes.
Dispassionate data exists to try to understand how to the decrease abortion rates, and restricting
access to abortion, counseling, and advisory services doesn’t decrease the number of
abortions performed, but does the opposite!
A study by the World Health Organization, looked at over 260-thousand women in 20 countries
from 1994 to 2008, and found once the Mexico City Policy was reinstated the last time,
in 2001, the abortion rate more than doubled.
They even created an algorithm to compare those with and without exposure to abortion
advice, endorsement or services, and those without access had more abortions.
And this isn’t just worldwide, it’s also in the United States.
A study published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health examined abortions
in the United States, and found from 2011 to 2014, the rate dropped by 12 percent.
Their study wanted to find out what caused this huge drop.
They looked at access to abortions and contraception and also the closing of abortion clinics.
They didn’t find a strong correlation between closing clinics and decreasing rates.
But, did think a decrease in unintended pregnancies and increase in contraceptive use contributed
to the decline in abortions.
The U.S. currently has the lowest abortion rate since it became legal in 1973, and yet
people are still denying sexual health education works.
This study postulates that both contraception and education are at play.
Though they say more research is obviously needed.
Many believe unintended pregnancies are a result of contraception failure, but according
to a report by the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual health research nonprofit… that would
only account for 5 percent of all unintended pregnancies.
Of the remaining 95 percent: most was from non-use of contraception, and a bit less than
half was incorrect or inconsistent use.
This means a big chunk of our unintended pregnancy problem is likely a lack of education!
A study in Plos ONE echos this sentiment: with findings so strong they put them in the
subtitle, saying “Why We Need Comprehensive Sex Education in the U.S.”
Though, access and education don’t work if people don’t accept them as options to
countering unintended pregnancies.
According to a study done over 8 years published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent
Medicine, more contraception instruction, and education, correlated with lower rates
of 15 to 17 year old’s getting pregnant -- what we call teen pregnancy.
And there are proven methods to purely decrease abortion rates.
A 2012 study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology followed over 9000 girls and women, and reported
teen birth rates dropped by 82 percent, and abortions dropped by approximately two-thirds...when
they did this one crazy thing... gave them free birth control access.
Unintended pregnancies aren’t just something we can write off with the flourish of a pen.
A Studies in Family Planning paper, reported 40 percent of all pregnancies worldwide were
unintended in 2012; half ended in abortion, but 38 percent resulted in unplanned births.
Those unplanned births affect the lives of everyone involved forever -- mothers, children,
fathers, grandparents, social support networks, et cetera.
According to a 1988 study in Family Planning Perspectives, three-quarters of women seeking
abortions said, “having a baby would interfere with work, school or other responsibilities,”
about two-thirds “could not afford” a child, and half “did not want to be a single
parent or had relationship problems.”
Some women stated they weren’t mature enough to have a child, and some still said their
parents wished them to abort.
Clearly, unintended pregnancies will continue to happen if we do nothing.
And, according to dozens of studies, abortion rates decline when people have access to contraception
and the education to use it properly.
Though there are many who have politicized this issue, the data seems to indicate that
restricting access for political reasons might cause more unintended pregnancies, and thus,
actually increase the rates of abortion.
Still curious about abortions?
Do you know how they work?
There is more than one kind, and we’ve got each process explained, here.
How do you feel about the U.S. having the lowest abortion rate in a long time?
Let us know in the comments, please subscribe for more DNews and thanks for watching.