Abortions
Scholars have constantly attempted to explain factors related increased rates of abortion cases with little success. Many women and young women opt for pregnancy termination, although some argue that their decisions do not stand with it. Despite the rise in education on the long-term implications of pregnancy termination, the rate of abortions cases is still high (Rosenberg 39). Studies highlights that individuals are likely to stop practicing a destructive action after realizing its consequences. However, this hypothesis does not seem to work in the case of abortion. Many scholarly sources suggest that in explaining high rates of abortions, factors that encourage people to opt for abortions are more influential than consideration of the consequences of the act. The paper observes that although the society is aware of the detrimental consequences of abortion; the rate of this practice remains high, which means that ration account this phenomenon is identifiable by examining the subject of abortion in the context of effect of causes of the act to the people or the motive instead of it consequences.
Most abortion cases are spontaneous, and they occur with the victim’s consent. Spontaneous abortions or miscarriage involves the unintentional expulsion of the embryo from the womb of a woman before the 24th week of gestation (Medoff 4). Most women argue that miscarriage control cannot happen by any means since the expulsion comes without their attention. However, medical experts argue that miscarriage control lies in the behaviour and the diet of the gestating mother. Some women, due to complacency and ignorance violate the directives of the doctors regarding the activities they should undertake, especially the labour activities and dietary guidelines. Consequently, they engage in activities that threaten their health and that of the baby. The log run effect of such complacency presents when the mother cannot hold the child until maturity resulting to miscarriage and premature birth.
Apart from miscarriage, mothers or medical experts may induce abortions. Most women induce abortions due to the failure of the contraceptive birth control mechanisms. Grossman et el (79) argues that over half of the women who get into induced abortions are motivated by the need of eliminating unwanted pregnancies that often happen due to failure of contraceptives. Failure of the contraceptives makes women conceive when least expected and at times they deem not ready to care for a child. Consequently, abortion becomes the ultimate strategy for solving this problem. Most women justify the action claiming that they are not in a position of taking care of the child because of lack of readiness. However, terminating a life on grounds of preparedness is never justifiable.
In some cases, women go for induced abortions because to fear of giving birth to children with defects. According to Gorbach et al (661), after the second trimester tests, the gestating mother possesses the ability to know the physical features of the child, except the gender. Any defects that the child may have upon birth alerts the mother of the condition of the child. Most of the women fear raising children with defects, whether physical or mental. Such feelings lead the mothers to terminate the pregnancies hence increasing the abortion rates. The fear of children with defects increases when the conception of the child bears some mystery in the first place. Children conceived because of rape and incest are associated with mysterious experiences. Mothers to such children face a lot of uncertainty regarding the appearance of children and their acceptability in the society. Such mothers undertake frequent tests in order to confirm whether the child is normal. However, if the mothers go for the test and the children seem to have defects, they obviously terminate the pregnancy tin order to conceal the incidents.
Abortion may become the only safe option when the pregnancy becomes unsafe for the mother. According to a report by the world health organization, abortion deems undesirable for most of the doctors, although they advocate for it in times of necessity (Ballenger 18). Many abortions happen before the 13th week of pregnancy because conducting the act after this period is detrimental. However, such abortions come due to the decisions of the parents or other people who are not essentially medical specialists. After successful tests, the doctors may affirm that continued carrying of the embryo endangers the life or the health of the mother. An overgrowing child presents the best example of a child who endangers the life of the mother. In order to minimize on the possible adverse effects, the doctors and specialists may opt for abortion. Some women also have diseases, which may affect their condition if the baby is allowed to grow to maturity. For example, Rheumatism endangers the life of the mother on delivery of any baby due to bleeding problems. Medical specialists refer to the abortions, which arise from the need to save the lives of the mothers as necessary abortions because failure to undertake them puts the mother in greater danger than the upholding of the pregnancy.
It is apparent that, “necessity” has created a situation of high incidence of abortion cases despites efforts for educating the society on the destructive consequences of the practice. The need to minimize abortions from the humanitarian base does not match the necessity from the parental side. Mothers are aware of the spiritual effects of termination, the mental effects, and even the physical effects. However, in some cases like miscarriage and danger to the mother’s health, abortion seems necessary. Medical experts support the idea fully because of its potential of saving the mother’s life. This highlights that motivating factors exert influential force that pressure individuals to abort while disregarding the consequences of the act.
Works cited
Ballenger, Josephine. "Uncovering Abortion." Columbia Journalism Review 31.6 (1992): 16-. ProQuest. Web. 2 May 2013.
Gorbach, Pamina M., et al. "Contraception and Abortion in Two Vietnamese Communes." American Journal of Public Health 88.4 (1998): 660-3. ProQuest. Web. 2 May 2013.
Grossman, Daniel A., M.D., et al. "Changes in Service Delivery Patterns After Introduction of Telemedicine Provision of Medical Abortion in Iowa." American Journal of Public Health 103.1 (2013): 73-8. ProQuest. Web. 2 May 2013.
Medoff, Marshall H. "The Relationship between State Abortion Policies and Abortion Providers." Gender Issues 26.3-4 (2009): 224-37. ProQuest. Web. 2 May 2013.
Rosenberg, Debra. "Anxiety Over Abortion." Newsweek Dec 20 2004: 38-. ProQuest. Web. 2 May 2013 .
