Study Reveals African-American Teen Abortion Rate Double National Average

 photo black-teen-girl.jpg
African-American teenagers are more than twice as likely to get an abortion than the national average. This statistic prompts the discussion as to whether or not if abortion in teenage years has any connection with the infertility issues or diseases African-American women suffer from later on in life.

According to a study by the Guttmacher Institute, the national average of abortions in 15 to 19-year-olds per 1,000 women is 18 while the national average of abortions in African-American teenagers per 1,000 is 41. This study also revealed that African-American Women account for 30 percent of all abortions. This data is from 2008 and it the most recent data available.

In “National Abortion Rates Highest Among African-American Teens, Twice National Average” featured on BlackVoiceNews.com, Rachel Jones, senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute stated, “There’s no definitive research that has actually been able to answer [the question of why such a high rate]”.

Many point to the locations of Planned Parenthood, poverty, and lack of attention placed on high-risk teens for pregnancy as the reasons for the high rate of abortions in the black community. Eighty percent of Planned Parenthood’s locations are in minority communities.

While the cause of the high rate of abortion, in the African-American community is unknown; Scientific studies have proven that abortion has side effects beyond the immediate future. These side effects include infertility and sepsis. Furthermore, though its been stated by others that a link between abortion and breast cancer exists, this research has not been thoroughly verified.

According to “Diseases After Abortion” on LiveStrong.com abortion can cause infertility. The uterus may be damaged by the actual surgical procedure of an abortion. Within the procedure the tools, which include a vacuum, syringe or curette, may scrape or scar the uterus. This action may cause the woman to be unable to conceive or carry to full term. However, occurs in extreme rarity.

Furthermore, previous studies in the 1980s linked abortion to the breast cancer these studies have proven to be false. According to The National Cancer Institute "induced abortion is not associated with an increase in breast cancer risk."

Although, scientific studies have linked abortion to be the causes of many diseases and conditions no conclusive evidence has linked it to breast cancer and heart disease, the top two killers of African-American women.

When African-American women have the highest risk for heart diseases, breast cancer and infertility, and also have the highest percentage of abortions one can only wonder is there a correlation and if sceintific institutes will ever research this connection.

Related:

Birth Control is More than Just My Responsibility 


Tatiana M. Brown is a native of Washington, D.C. who is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism at Hofstra University. Follow her @TatianaMBrown or check out her website, or contact her at tatiana@forharriet.com

No comments:

Powered by Blogger.