Texas Law Linked to Drop in Abortions
Texas Law Linked to Drop in Abortions, Rise in Birth Rates Among Teens
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Mar 09 - Since a parental notification law was enacted in Texas, teen abortion rates in the state have fallen by as much as 20%, according to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine for March 9. In a subgroup of older teens, the law was linked to an increase in birth rates.
In 2000, Texas started enforcing a law that requires physicians to notify the parents of any minor who is contemplating abortion at least 48 hours before the procedure. Similar laws have been enacted in 35 states.
The effect these laws have on abortion and birth rates is unclear. Several reports have suggested they cause a drop in abortions rates, but have little effect on birth rates. Still others, however, have questioned whether abortion rates really drop, suggesting that out-of-state non-recorded abortions may account for the difference.
Dr. Theodore Joyce, from the City University of New York, and colleagues decided to study teen abortion and birth rates in Texas because it is the biggest and most populous state to adopt a parental notification law. Also, because of its large size, teens are unlikely to go outside the state for abortions in a non-recorded area.
The study compared abortion and birth rates in 1998 to1999 with those in 2000 to 2002.
The enforcement of the notification law was associated with an 11% drop in abortion rates among 15-year-olds, a 20% drop among 16-year-olds, and a 16% reduction among 17-year-olds relative to the rates seen in 18-year-olds.
Among minors who were 17.50 to 17.74 years of age at the time of conception, the law was tied to a 4% rise in birth rates relative to their peers who were 18.00 to 18.24 years of age. Also, compared with 18-year-olds, subjects 17.50 to 17.74 years of age were 34% more likely to have second trimester abortion.
“Although the observational design of the study makes it impossible to confirm causality, these findings are relevant to an assessment of the likely effect of pending legislation to extend such laws,” the authors comment.
N Engl J Med 2006;354:1031-1038.
March 10th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
I try to be as open minded about all things as I can, and I have done my level best to understand the views of pro-abortionists. But I draw the line at allowing minors to have abortions without parental consent. A person who is not legally able to drive, vote, drink alcohol, or even play high school sports without an adult’s signature is supposed to be allowed to decide to have an abortion without telling her parents.
I think people who defend the right of children to consent to an abortion procedure are people who just feel good knowing that somewhere, at this very moment, someone is terminating a pregnancy. Not because it is best for anyone, but just because they like feeling good about not giving a damn.
Feeling good about not giving a damn is a common sentiment in our society, and is not just limited to abortion. If we don’t give a damn and believe we are right to feel this way, we can excuse ourselves from all kinds of responsibilities, like the responsibility of caring for frightened and desparate young people.
My state of Mississippi is in the process of passing a law banning abortion in this state. I will try to comment on this in my own blog soon.
March 10th, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Here is an interesting and very touching story:
Abortion Survivor … Rescued, Redeemed and Running the Good Race“
later…
March 10th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Dr. Hebert, thank you very much for your comment. Your argument is one that which I’ve used often:
It’s always amazed me that the pro-choice bunch could justify allowing a teen to have an abortion without notifying the parents, when they won’t even give the same teen an aspirin without written permission.
Looking forward to your post about Mississippi banning abortion! (And also looking forward to the fact itself!)
TJ … I went and read that article! Wow! That was great. Thank you so much for sharing it. I can’t imagine what that poor woman has been through. I’m not sure of what sort of person I’d be if I’d been through what she has.
She’s definitely a witness to all of us.
March 11th, 2006 at 12:52 am
Moof, the law regarding medicine and sexuality is even more peculiar than the abortion debate implies. It is legal for me to give a 14 year old an antibiotic for chlamydia without notifying the parents, but if I give the same child the same antibiotic for a sore throat, I can be criminally prosecuted if I do not secure parental consent.
March 11th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Thinking about the asymmetry of the law when it’s applied to the same action, but for different purposes, brings home just how totalitarian the abortion proponents would like to be …
They want unlimited abortion, at any stage of pregnancy, for any reason whatsoever … for everyone.
Our laws reflect just how powerful the relatively small group of really aggressive hard-line pro-aborts have become. These pro-abort fanatics not only have no balance, they would stomp on individual conscience and free will - as in the case of a provider refusing to prescribe “Plan B.”
Dr. Flea had an excellent post - When the Kids Leave Home and the Dog Dies - it stirred a real hornet’s nest. If you haven’t read it, you should take a look - and don’t miss the comments.
Here’s a quote from his post:
That’s why I call abortion the sacrifice of human life on the altar of our convenience.
March 12th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
Hi Moof,
I read something about that study, and the stats from Texas. If I remember correctly, one disturbing thing was the rise in second trimester abortions in 17 year olds, despite the overall decrease in abortions overall. Do you believe there is a difference between a woman who chooses an abortion in the first trimester and one who has one later on in pregnancy? Just curious what your thoughts are. Also, just a comment on your above post:
Our laws reflect just how powerful the relatively small group of really aggressive hard-line pro-aborts have become. These pro-abort fanatics not only have no balance, they would stomp on individual conscience and free will - as in the case of a provider refusing to prescribe “Plan B.â€
I believe there are “fanatics” on both sides of the issue. Do you agree?
March 12th, 2006 at 8:43 pm
Hey Pattie! Thanks for your comment. Let me take it one point at a time.
First of all, in that study, the “the rise in second trimester abortions in 17 year olds” … was mostly the 17 year old pregnant girls who waited until they were 18 so that their parents wouldn’t be notified.
As far as there being a difference between choosing to abort between 1 - 12 weeks, or 13 - 24 weeks … personally I don’t see a difference, because I don’t believe that there’s any such thing as a little bit pregnant. That’s the same baby in there - with the same genetic makeup. The only difference is the passage of time, and the stage of development.
Absolutely. There are. We can have strong opinions, discuss them, try to convince others to see “our side” of any issue. All of that is OK.
Personal attacks on individuals are not OK … be it verbal attacks … or otherwise. Fanaticism tries to impose its will on others by unjust means, and does not respect an individual’s right to follow his or her own conscience.
This begs a bit when it comes to abortion though. I don’t believe that any of us would willingly stand back and watch a person poison or dismember a small child … and it wouldn’t be fanaticism to try to intervene.
You see, the unfortunate thing where abortion is concerned is that there’s always more than one person involved when a woman chooses to abort … and only one of those people comes out alive. I’m a firm believer in a woman’s right to do whatever she wants with her own body … I just don’t believe that the baby inside of her is part of her body … it’s genetically separate.
That said, I respect the current laws, and I also respect the people who believe in abortion. Because of my belief about life, however, I will always do my best to try to get the laws changed in order to protect what I believe are human lives. I will also do my best to present what I believe about abortion, again for the sake of what I think are human lives.
If that didn’t answer your questions, please … ask me again in a different way, and I’ll do my best to answer you.
March 13th, 2006 at 7:38 am
Your points are well taken, and I respect your point of view. You expressed yourself eloquently!
March 13th, 2006 at 8:51 am
Pattie … thank you, dear heart. And I yours. I wish that the people of the world could sit down and discuss what they think and believe. Perhaps we would discover that we’re not so very different after all.
Part of respecting life is (or should be) the respect for people and their beliefs.