Hadi Alawie, Ana Gil, Ryan Fernandez

Dr. Arlene Garcia-Lopez

Enc1101

October 28, 2024

Abortion

Banning abortion is a major issue that Restricts access to healthcare. Abortion is Importe part of

reproductive healthcare that helps with problems like family planning, mental health, and

maternal health and personal medical choices. Making it available can help lots of social health

and financial problems.

Access to safe abortion services has a big impact on women’s health, especially in places that is

unsafe that can cause many deaths from abortions. From the World Health Organization (WHO)

says unsafe abortions cause about 13% of deaths related to pregnancy worldwide. Most of the

death is from poorer countries where women use unsafe methods without help from trained

doctors. A 2010 article by Rebecca F. Baggaley, Joanna Burgin, and Oona M. R. Campbell

explains how medical abortions can lower these deaths, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, which

has high death rates from mothers. The article shows that misoprostol and mifepristone can save

many lives. Misoprostol alone works 73-95% of the time, but combined with mifeprisone, it

works 94-97% of the time. Even though mifepristone is very effective, it is hard to get it in

poorer countries because of high costs and licensing rules. Misoprostol is easier to find because it

is approved for other medical uses in many places.

The article also discusses the broader implications for countries like Tanzania and

Ethiopia, where the lack of access to medical abortion contributes to higher maternal mortality
rates. The absence of safe, legal abortion options forces women to seek unsafe alternatives, often

resulting in complications that could have been easily avoided with proper medical intervention.

If access to legal and medically supervised abortion were expanded, maternal health outcomes

would significantly improve. Therefore, the restriction of abortion services perpetuates high

maternal death rates and worsens the overall health of women, especially in regions with

inadequate healthcare infrastructure.

Abortion is often a critical component of family planning, especially in situations where

contraception fails or is not used. Family planning services, which include both contraceptive

methods and abortion, enable individuals to make informed decisions about when to have

children, how many to have, and under what circumstances. According to a study by Tizita Tekle

Lencha et al. (2022), effective family planning methods, such as contraception and medical

abortion, could prevent up to 90% of abortion-related morbidity. This statistic underscores the

importance of integrating abortion services into broader reproductive healthcare systems.

Contraceptive methods, while highly effective in preventing pregnancies, are not foolproof.

When contraceptive failure occurs, abortion serves as a necessary backup to ensure that women

are not forced into unwanted pregnancies. Access to both contraception and abortion allows

women to have control over their reproductive health, reducing the likelihood of unplanned

pregnancies and enabling them to plan their families according to their financial, social, and

emotional circumstances. The article highlights how women in Ethiopia utilize post-abortion

family planning to prevent future unintended pregnancies, which is crucial in reducing the need

for repeat abortions. This integration of abortion into family planning services not only

empowers women but also improves overall reproductive health outcomes by reducing the risks

associated with unintended pregnancies.

to a woman's health or well-being. For example, in cases of rape or incest, or when the fetus has

been diagnosed with conditions that would lead to severe health issues, abortion becomes a

necessary tool for women to preserve their mental and physical health. Without access to

abortion, women may be forced to carry pregnancies to term under distressing circumstances,

leading to negative social and health consequences.

The psychological impact of abortion is often a topic of debate, with varying opinions on

the mental health outcomes women experience following the procedure. However, research

consistently shows that the vast majority of women feel relief after an abortion, rather than regret

or psychological distress. The study by Nancy E. Adler, Henry P. David, Brenda N. Major, and

others (1990) examined the psychological responses of women post-abortion and found that most

women experience a sense of relief, particularly after a first-trimester abortion. According to the

study, 76% of women reported feeling relief and happiness two weeks after the procedure, while

only 17% reported feelings of guilt.

These findings challenge the misconception that abortion leads to long-term

psychological harm. Instead, the evidence suggests that, for many women, abortion is a positive

step in addressing an unintended or challenging pregnancy, allowing them to regain control of

their lives and health. While some women may experience negative emotions such as guilt or

sadness, these feelings are often transient and do not result in long-term mental health issues.

The emotional response to abortion is complex and individualized, but the overwhelming

majority of women report that abortion helped them avoid greater personal or financial distress.
 It's also important to recognize that, in cases where a woman is forced to carry an

unwanted pregnancy to term, the psychological and emotional toll can be far more detrimental.

The stress, anxiety, and financial burden associated with raising an unplanned child can

exacerbate existing mental health conditions and lead to long-term emotional and social

challenges. Abortion, when provided safely and supported by counseling, can be a crucial

intervention in helping women manage the psychological complexities of reproductive decision-

making.

The issue of medical privacy is another critical concern in the debate over abortion

access. Laws that restrict or criminalize abortion often interfere with patient confidentiality and

undermine medical privacy rights. In many countries, the legal landscape surrounding abortion

has led to the surveillance of women seeking reproductive healthcare. For example, in some

jurisdictions, healthcare providers may be legally obligated to report abortions to authorities,

which violates the principles of patient confidentiality and trust. These laws create an

environment of fear and stigma, discouraging women from seeking the healthcare they [Link]

issue of medical privacy is another critical concern in the debate over abortion access. Laws that

restrict or criminalize abortion often interfere with patient confidentiality and undermine medical

privacy rights. In many countries, the legal landscape surrounding abortion has led to the

surveillance of women seeking reproductive healthcare. For example, in some jurisdictions,

healthcare providers may be legally obligated to report abortions to authorities, which violates

the principles of patient confidentiality and trust. These laws create an environment of fear and

stigma, discouraging women from seeking the healthcare they need.

Furthermore, medical privacy is essential for protecting women's autonomy over their

bodies and reproductive decisions. The decision to undergo an abortion is a deeply personal one,
and women should be able to make that decision without government interference or public

scrutiny. Restricting access to abortion services not only infringes upon women's health but also

their rights to privacy, dignity, and personal choice.

The restriction of abortion access represents a serious public health and human rights

issue. Abortion is a critical tool in improving maternal health, supporting family planning,

safeguarding mental well-being, and protecting medical privacy. Evidence from global studies

highlights that access to safe abortion services can reduce maternal mortality, enhance family

planning efforts, and improve psychological outcomes for women. Moreover, legal restrictions

on abortion infringe upon women's rights to privacy and autonomy, often leading to unsafe

practices and poorer health outcomes. For these reasons, the ban on abortion is not only an

ethical and social issue but also a public health crisis that demands urgent attention and action.

Access to abortion should be viewed as a necessary component of comprehensive healthcare that

protects women's health and rights.

The ban on Abortion is a real-world problem as it should be allowed as it is used as a

defense mechanism against many other ongoing [Link] of Abortion Access on Maternal

Health,Role of Abortion in Family Planning, Role of Abortion in Family Planning, and Abortion

and Medical Privacy.

Impact of Abortion Access on Maternal Health – Does access improve or worsen health

outcomes for women? Sources used: Rebecca F. Baggaley, Joanna Burgin, Oona M. R.
Campbell, (2010) The Potential of Medical Abortion to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Africa:

What Benefits for Tanzania and Ethiopia? 5,10.

This article talks about the impact of Abortion on maternal health and whether or not it

improves or worsens the health outcomes of women. At this point, about 13 percent of the

mortality rate comes from unsafe abortion. This is usually done outside the reach of

professionals experienced with the process. Studies have shown that thousands of lives could be

saved all around the world by performing medical abortions that utilize Misoprostol. The article

states this information on the situation… “Mifepristone with misoprostol are the most common

drugs used, with success rates of 94-97% Misoprostol-only is less effective at 73-95%.

Mifepristone use in developing countries has been extremely limited mainly due to licensing

restrictions, but also for several other reasons including the high cost of the medication, leading

to the exploration of use of a misoprostol-only regimen, since misoprostol is widely used for

treating other conditions and is already registered in many countries.” Rebecca F. Baggaley,

Joanna Burgin, Oona M. R. Campbell, (2010) The Potential of Medical Abortion to Reduce

Maternal Mortality in Africa: What Benefits for Tanzania and Ethiopia? 5,10. The continent of

Africa as a whole has a mortality rate higher than anywhere else because they do not have the

funds to access medically lead abortions and need to take matters into their own hands. If they

had the access to medical abortions, their mortality rate would go down as a whole. This is just

one of the reasons abortions should be a resource to all people who need it.

Role of Abortion in Family Planning – How does abortion access intersect with other

family planning resources, like contraception? Sources used: Tizita Tekle Lencha, Addisu

Alemayehu Gube, Molalegn Mesele Gessese, Mulugeta Tsegay Abadi, (2022) Post-abortion
family planning utilization and associated factors in health facilities of Wolaita Zone, Southern

Ethiopia: Mixed study. 17,6.

Sometimes, Women become impregnated for a number of reasons but all have one

common goal, figuring out what the best solution is long term and tackling the situation head on.

Most of the time, the main cause of abortion is poor use of family planning. What this means is

just how an individual's relatives handle that person's pregnancy and whether or not they will

result to abortion. One useful tool many families do not take advantage of is contraception.

Contraception is used to prevent a pregnancy from occuring. This method doesn't always work

but could be useful. If the method doesn't work, abortion could be a great tool to use. The article

states this information regarding family planning… “It is estimated that 90% of abortion-related

morbidity could be prevented by the use of effective family planning methods (contraception,

medical abortions), where effective family planning methods are available and widely used”.

Tizita Tekle Lencha, Addisu Alemayehu Gube, Molalegn Mesele Gessese, Mulugeta Tsegay

Abadi, (2022) Post-abortion family planning utilization and associated factors in health

facilities of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia: Mixed study. 17,6. This goes to show that abortion

can be an effective tool when used properly just as the same applies to contraception.

Psychological Effects of Abortion on Women – What does research say about mental

health outcomes following abortion? Sources used: Nancy E Adler, Henry P David, Brenda N

Major, Susan H Roth, Nancy F Russo, Gail E Wyatt, (1990), Psychological responses after

abortion, 248,4951.

One thing to take into consideration is the impact on women's mental health after the

abortion. Some of them will feel a sense of regret while others will feel relieved that the situation

is over. While the mental aspect differs from person to person, the physical effect has almost
always shown that women are healthy and in good shape after an abortion. Studies show that

76% of women feel great after abortion and show no signs of illness. Below is some facts stated

by the article regarding the mental aspect people experience after abortion… “Descriptive

studies have shown the incidence of severe negative responses after abortion to be low. After

first-trimester abortion, women most frequently report feeling relief and happiness. In a study by

Lazarus, 2 weeks after first-trimester abortions, 76% of women reported feeling relief, while the

most common negative emotion, guilt, was reported by only 17%.” Nancy E Adler, Henry P

David, Brenda N Major, Susan H Roth, Nancy F Russo, Gail E Wyatt, (1990), Psychological

responses after abortion, 248,4951. These percentages further prove that abortion can be utilized

as a tool to help woman who need it while also proving to be safe.

Abortion and Medical Privacy – How do laws around abortion impact patient

confidentiality and medical privacy?

Sources used: West, Robin. "From choice to reproductive justice: de-constitutionalizing abortion

rights." Yale Law Journal, vol. 118, no. 7, May 2009, pp. 1394+. Gale In Context: Opposing

Viewpoints,[Link]/apps/doc/A208883317/OVIC?u=lincclin_mdcc&sid=bookmark-

OVIC&xid=f59a31ff. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024

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