Abortion: A Controversial Subject in Contemporary Society
Abortion is one of the most debated subjects in the contemporary society. Different opinions from the human rights point of view to law and philosophy have given discourse regarding the issue. On another aspect, the social and cultural opinions have played a significant role in shaping the discussion on abortion. However, the women seem to be the most affected by all these opinions since the issue revolves between them and the unborn. In this regard, to women abortion would be an imperative procedure when made accessible and affordable without marginalization and stigmatization of the victims. Therefore, this paper seeks to analyze what women undergo through when denied abortion. In the same respect, I seek to raise the insight on abortion, the rights, and stigmatization.
Impact of Denied Abortion
In most cases, abortion has been discouraged due to the perceived impact on the mental health of the women receiving abortion procedures. However, several studies have quashed this narrative and stated that no evidence found relating mental health from an abortion procedure (Biggs, Neuhaus and Foster 2557). For instance, Biggs and colleagues (2015) assert that "no increased risk of a mental disorder after an abortion" from a Danish cohort analysis that was meant to evaluate the psychiatric states.
The study by Biggs and colleagues (2015) developed an impact on the impact of denied abortion such that women still pursued their quench using other methods that were highly associated with anxiety disorders. The issues associated with denied abortion demonstrates the urge of the woman to seek the procedure to other parts of the country where the procedure can be done (Biggs, Neuhaus and Foster 2561). In essence, such victims develop anxiety due to the cost of traveling, denial, and self-expectations associated with seeking an alternative procedure. The anxiety diagnosed in this case can also be traced to the reasons leading the women to seek the termination of their pregnancy (Biggs, Neuhaus and Foster 2561). In most cases, the reasons prompting women to seek abortion are highly ignored, and most of them are entangled in their socioeconomic status. For instance, women have cited partner-related reasons, financial and life goals as significant issues pushing their urge for the procedure (Biggs, Neuhaus and Foster 2561).
The Societal Impact of Abortion Denial
Through the lens of public health, abortion is a subject that should be viewed from a salient angle that is in line with the issues in the society. For instance, the size of household, access to employment and federal poverty lines are significant facets that should be considered in regard to abortion denied. In that case, it is important to note that abortion is much related to the outlined societal issues. This indicates that unplanned pregnancy may lead to an increased household that may increase pressure on the household budget thereby fostering poverty. According to Foster and colleagues (2017), denied abortions can lead to reducing women participation in full-time employment which has an impact on the poverty level. This situation also creates a society where more women are raising children on their raising reliance on public assistance (Foster, Biggs and Ralph 413). Reliance on public assistance creates "adverse economic consequences for women and children" (Foster, Biggs and Ralph 413). In that case, therefore, the reduction in the access to abortion procedures by law and societal input will only impose challenges to the economy of the country.
The Importance of Accessible Abortion
Abortion should be made accessible since most of the pregnancies are either unplanned or unintended. For instance, 45 percent of pregnancies in the United States have been associated with the category of unintended pregnancies (Aztlan, Foster and Upadhyay 45). The impact of such pregnancies has been associated with reduced prenatal visits, less breastfeeding depression, and anxiety which have an adverse impact on the child (Aztlan, Foster and Upadhyay 45). In that respect, therefore, denying abortion procedures to such access seems to widen the implications for the well-being of the mother and that of the child.
Additionally, the impact seems to be transferred to the early development of the child. According to Rochebrochard and Joshi (2013), a study carried out by United States cohorts indicated the link between unwanted pregnancy and lower development in children. This study suggested a close link between parenting behaviors and unplanned pregnancies which later have an impact on favorable child development (Rochebrochard and Joshi 910). On the same aspect, unplanned pregnancies have been associated with inadequate prenatal visits, fewer antenatal care visits which adversely affect the life of the child (Rochebrochard and Joshi 910). This, therefore, indicates that parental behavior and the postnatal period are essential considerations that policy regulators and society should overlook while evaluating access to safe abortion procedures.
Conclusion
The limited access to abortion procedures has been associated with issues that later affect the victims. Firstly, women have been seen to suffer from mental and other anxiety disorders as they seek to live with the denied abortion procedures. Furthermore, it has been noted that even after the denial from one facility, they still find other facilities or approaches to terminate the unwanted pregnancy. In another account, denial of the procedures has been associated with adverse impacts on the child, especially in their early development.
Works Cited
Aztlan, Evelyn Angel, Diana Greene Foster, and Ushma Upadhyay. "Subsequent Unintended Pregnancy Among US Women Who Receive or Are Denied a Wanted Abortion." Journal of Midwifery and women's health (2018): 45-52.
Biggs, Antonia, John M Neuhaus, and Diana G Foster. "Mental health diagnoses 3 years after receiving or being denied an abortion in the united states." American journal of Public health
(2015): 2557-2563.
Foster, Diana Greene, et al. "Socioeconomic outcomes of women who receive and women who are denied wanted abortions in the united states." American journal of public health (2017): 407-413.
Rochebrochard, Elise de La and Heather Joshi. "Children Born After Unplanned Pregnancies and Cognitive Development at 3 Years: Social Differentials in the United Kingdom Millennium Cohort." American Journal of Episdemology (2013): 910-920.
