Abortion is an issue that affects women, men equally in a similar manner. It is surprising that in most cases men are hurt in matters of abortion as much as women are. Though it is often women who have to decide on whether on not (if given liberty to) to go for abortion, because men happen to be emotionally connected with the matter hence, it is unavoidable to strike them off the list of those affected by the act.
2020 is being seen as the year when the apex court of USA may bring in anti-abortion law into the picture as President Trump will be undergoing elections this year.
According to CDC surveillance report- In 2016, 623,471 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC from 48 reporting areas. The abortion rate for 2016 was 11.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, and the abortion ratio was 186 abortions per 1,000 live births.
Compared with 2015, the total number and rate of reported abortions fell by 2%, and the abortion ratio decreased by 1%. Additionally, from 2007 to 2016, the number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions decreased by 24%, 26%, and 18%, respectively. In 2016, all three measures reached their lowest level for the entire period of analysis (2007-2016).
Preconception health refers to the health of women and men during their reproductive years, which are the years they can have a child. CDC further suggests- 'But it happens often. In fact, about half of all pregnancies in the United States are not planned. Good preconception health is important for every woman―not just those planning pregnancy. It means taking control and choosing healthy habits. It means living well, being healthy, and feeling good about your life.'
In the United States, abortion rates have been falling for several decades while attitudes have remained relatively stable
Let us have a look at the meaning, history and significance of abortion worldwide: Agnes Guillaume explains-
Abortion is an ancient and universal practice. Throughout history, it has taken different forms in different political, social, and cultural contexts. Laws on abortion around the world vary; in some countries, it is available to women on request, while in others it is totally outlawed. The liberalization of abortion is the subject of intense controversy and, once established, is sometimes challenged. Some defend access to abortion as a human right, a woman’s right, a sexual and reproductive right, and a right to health given the dangers of illegal abortions, while others condemn it in the name of the embryo’s right to life.
Social disapproval of abortion, which remains widespread, is expressed in many ways: from denying abortion rights and omitting this issue from the international agenda – for example, it goes unmentioned in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – to implementing (by American conservative administrations) a “global gag rule” to block funding for abortion-related programmes and organizations (Singh and Karim, 2017; Starrs, 2017). It is also expressed in women’s reluctance to talk about their abortions. In certain countries, it results in women being punished and sometimes imprisoned; in discriminatory treatment at health centres both in the performance of abortions and in treatment for complications; and in difficulty finding qualified health professionals to carry out the procedure.
The social condemnation of abortion is related to the conception of women’s role in society. Those who consider motherhood to be women’s principal role perceive the choice not to have children as deviant (Luker, 1984). Given that gender relations remain unequal in many countries and that the vision of women is still strongly associated with childbearing, the practice of abortion is often stigmatized, albeit to various degrees in different societies.
Abortion has always been used as a method of regulating fertility in lieu of contraception, and it has played a role in both past and contemporary demographic transitions. It has also been a key tool in certain population policies. In a number of communist countries, such as Bulgaria during the second half of the twentieth century, abortion was used as a population policy instrument in a context where access to contraception was limited. It has also played a noteworthy role in controlling rapid population growth in certain Asian countries. These policies have led to high abortion rates and even to abusive practices, such as forced abortions in China as part of the one-child policy in the late 1970s.
Abortion is an important subject for demographers and health professionals. Unsafe abortion practices remain a major cause of maternal mortality (WHO, 2011), and the health consequences of abortions still stand at the centre of debates in many countries. Until recently, all illegal abortions were considered unsafe, but this classification has recently been questioned (Ganatra et al., 2014). While legality and safety were closely associated in the 1980s, that is no longer strictly the case thanks to the diffusion of new abortion techniques in the 1990s and 2000s, including in countries with restrictive abortion laws. As a result, three categories of risk are now recognized: safe, less safe, and least safe (Ganatra et al., 2017).
Historical evidence shows that women have always obtained abortions using a wide range of methods, passed on from generation to generation, even if their effectiveness was not proven (McLaren, 1990; Van de Walle, 1999). Today, the method used depends on the legal status of abortion, the duration of pregnancy, the available technology (Faúndes and Barzelatto, 2011), as well as the woman’s financial resources and access to providers. It also depends on the qualifications of the practitioner who is to perform the abortion and on the healthcare environment (medical or not).
Abortion methods are categorized into two main types: traditional methods and medical/surgical methods.Modern abortion methods may be surgical (dilation and curettage, vacuum aspiration) or medication-based. They are used for both legal and illegal abortions, but disparities in access and quality of service, in terms of professional skills and training, are very large between countries where abortion is legal and those where access is restricted.
I would recommend you go these links for your better understand:
https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_POPU_1802_0225--abortion-around-the-world-an-overview.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/womensrh/index.htm
https://dc.uwm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1161&context=etd
subject: human sexuality psychology 1. Summarize the issue of abortion including relevant statistics, the various methods...