[afro-nets] Youth-Friendly Postabortion Care Publications fromPathfinder International (4)

["Stuart Rennie" <stuart_rennie@dentistry.unc.edu>]

The evidence-base for the effectiveness of abstinence programs, if one looks honestly at the scientific literature, is currently very weak. 

The idea that children and adolescents will want to get pregnant, in order to have an   abortion, in order to access post-abortion services, has no evidence base either. This is just armchair psychology and sociology. Worse, it is insulting to girls and young women who become pregnant through no fault of their own through non-consensual sex. What's next? That there ought to be no HIV-related services, because people will then want to put themselves at risk of getting HIV, in order to 'enjoy' HIV services? Same with TB? Malaria? It is not just that this line of thinking has no credibility, it is downright demeaning. It takes people in some vulnerable, really terrible situations, and tries to depict them as conniving and opportunist.

While sex education and contraception can reduce unwanted pregnancy among youth, and should be encouraged, there will always be instances where unwanted pregnancies occur, and where abortion may be the least worst option. When that happens, it is good that there are appropriate services for youth. 


Stuart Rennie
Research Assistant Professor (Bioethics)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
mailto:Stuart_rennie@unc.edu