Introduction
Abortion is a loss of pregnancy due to the premature exit of the conception product from the uterus due to any cause. It can happen spontaneously or may be medically induced. Spontaneous abortion, which is known as miscarriage, occurs due to unintended trauma, or natural reasons such as structural and numerical chromosome aberration, critical illness corresponding with pregnancy and conservational factors. On the other hand, induced abortion is purposely achieved. Globally, the main reason why abortion takes place is to stop childbearing or to postpone it, and social-economic apprehensions, which include lack of employment, education, or inability to afford additional children is the second reason why women choose abortion. This research paper will focus on the reasons why women end a pregnancy, the adverse effects of abortion and circumstances under which abortion is legal.
Reasons for Abortion
Birth control failure is the most mutual reason why women consider termination of pregnancy. 50% of women who have an abortion had used contraceptive way during the month they become pregnant Chae et al. 230). The failure of birth control indicates that the woman was not ready for conception or for having a child and, therefore, illegally eliminate the pregnancy during its early stage.
Incapability to provide or care for a child. Lack of enough money to raise a kid is another main reason why young woman choose abortion (Lavelanet et al. 6). After a woman conceives the feeling of helplessness to support and bring up their kids in a healthy environment. The inability to provide shelter, clothing, and food makes them feel that they will cause the kid to suffer and therefore ends the pregnancy.
To avert the birth of a kid with birth faults or severe medical issues. During the second semester of pregnancy, doctors carry out several prenatal screening tests that test the variability of unique chromosomal and inherited circumstances in the fetus. When the prenatal screening and subsequent diagnostic indicate diagnoses of poor prognosis, a woman is given a choice to keep the pregnancy or abort it. When the parent decides to terminate the pregnancy, the decision may have several factors (Lavelanet et al. 9). In non-fatal circumstances, parents may feel they are ill-equipped to handle a kid with critical special needs for a lifetime and some instances, and the decision to abort involves the concerns of baby suffering.
Pregnancy resulting from rape. Rape is a traumatic experience that affects the victim psychologically, physically, and in a sociological way. Pregnancy, as a result of rape, is a severe public health issue (Chae et al. 235). Pregnancy after a rape may cause depression due to domestic violence, humiliation, threats, and isolation. Due to this, the victim may decide to terminate the pregnancy. Additionally, the woman feels the fear of raising a child whose father is a rapist and not known. This can make them have a lifetime trauma once they see the child and, therefore, choose to have a medical abortion.
A physical or psychological condition that risks the health of a woman if the pregnancy is sustained. A woman may have pregnancy complications that endanger the life and health of both the mother and the child (Chae et al. 239). If continuing the pregnancy would lead to critical condition or would cause the death of the mother, abortion is ethically accepted in this case. This indicates that a woman has a right to protect herself when she is at risk and that she may use ferocity or even kill in dangerous circumstances to defend themselves from physical attack.
Effects of Abortion
Any abortion, whether medicinal or criminal, has distinguishing physical, social, and mental impact on women. The negative emotions may be powerful for some women and can be seen within days or after many years.
It causes depression and anxiety. Abortion causes periods of depression of varying lengths during which pain can become entrenched (Daniels, 16). This causes loss of self-esteem and fear of not having a child in the future and, as a result making the victim feel worthless. Additionally, they experience flashbacks, which are manifested as nightmares that replay the action of abortion in a bloody and painful manner during later pregnancies or births. Further, this may lead to suicidal thoughts due to the guilt of killing that holds the woman captive by the paralyzing image of a dead kid.
Unsafe abortion causes maternal death. Countries where abortion is strictly restricted, deaths and morbidity occur due to unsafe abortion. According to research, the prevalence of unsafe abortion is connected with restricted abortion law, poor quality of health services, and low community awareness (Daniels, 27). Poor health services during an unsafe abortion may cause postpartum hemorrhage, which causes excessive loss of blood, which eventually leads to the death of a woman. Moreover, women can have postpartum infections after an unsafe abortion due to unhygienic conditions, which can be a critical issue and, ultimately, death.
Legal Grounds for Abortion
When the life of a woman is endangered. Many nations allow abortion to be carried out to save the life of the expectant woman (Johnson et al. 542). This is considered as the human right, which is protected by the law, especially when pregnancy is a threat to the life of the woman. For the abortion to take place, there are detailed lists of what is considered as life-threatening medical conditions. Abortion is carried out by a trained provider who will provide further treatment in case of any complication that may occur (Lavelanet et al. 9). The law concludes that saving the life of a mother is significant at any point in the pregnancy and when essential, termination of pregnancy should be taken as soon as conceivable to minimize the risks of a woman’s health.
In the case of fetal damage. Abortion is allowed upon diagnosis of fetal impairment or anomalies due to genetic or other causes. The impairment considered are those that are incompatible with life. Prenatal tests and other medical diagnostic services cannot be lawfully be refused since the mother may decide to end her pregnancy.
When pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, protecting a female from painful, inhuman, and humiliating treatment necessitates that those who are pregnant due to forced sexual acts can legally access safe abortion services (Lavelanet et al. 10). This is allowed when the female has evidence of the law to the lawful authorities, a forensic indication of sexual infiltration, or a piece of evidence from police that the contact was unequal. In this case, the law requires that safe abortion to be providing based on woman’s criticism rather than acquiring scientific evidence.
Conclusion
From the moment of fertilization, a human being is created. The embryo has a DNA of separate distinct from that of either parent, which distinguishes one individual from another, and therefore the DNA of an embryo shows that a fetus is a person. In this case, the termination of the unborn child is a murder. And consequently, it should not be legalized. The law should only legalize abortion in severe cases such as child deformation, saving the mother keeping the pregnancy risks the life of the woman. Apart from this, abortion should be not be allowed, and a serious penalty and sentence should be taken to a woman who aborts a child without the permission of the law.
