NCJ Number
116600
Editor(s)
G B Melton
Date Published
1986
Length
152 pages
Annotation
Five papers consider psychological and legal issues pertinent to adolescent abortion as well as legal and ethical issues in counseling pregnant adolescents.
Abstract
In examining U.S. Supreme Court decisions pertinent to teenage abortions, the first paper concludes that the available evidence raises substantial doubt about the validity of the premises underlying the Court's approval of age-based regulation of abortion. Also, assuming the Court's correctness in regulating adolescent abortion, there are doubts as to whether procedures can be developed to vindicate such interests. An examination of the epidemiological context of adolescent abortion considers the sources and limitations of abortion data, the prevalence and distribution of adolescent abortions, the percentage of pregnancies terminated by abortion and abortion ratios, and characteristics of teenagers obtaining abortions. Also considered are abortion costs and sex, pregnancy, and childbirth among adolescents. An examination of the psychological issues in abortion for adolescents concludes that adolescents are at somewhat greater risk than older women for difficulties while deciding whether to have an abortion and in responding to the procedure. The experience, however, has the potential to contribute to a young woman's growth and development. Other papers consider the consequences of adolescent childbearing and abortion and legal and ethical issues in counseling pregnant adolescents. References.