Restricted Access To Abortion

Because of ignorance, denial, fear of social disapproval, fear of abortion, and/or restricted access to abortion services, adolescents are more likely to seek abortion later in their pregnancy than are adult women. This, alone, increases their risk of serious complications. In addition, the younger the adolescent, the more likely her abortion will be self-induced or that the provider will not be medically trained. Consequently, in comparison with older women, younger women are more likely to experience septicemia, hemorrhaging, and damage to reproductive organs (Population Reference
Bureau and the Center for Population Options, 1994). Finally, if additional postabortion medical attention is needed, adolescents often take longer to obtain this
care
(Senderowitz, 1994).
Data from 27 studies in sub-Saharan Africa revealed that adolescent women accounted for as many as 60 percent of those hospitalized for abortion complications (Population
Reference Bureau and the Center for Population Options, 1994). In Nigeria, a 13-year review of maternal deaths at a University Hospital indicated that complications of induced abortions caused 72 percent of deaths among women under the age of 19
(Unuigbe, Oronsay, and Orhue, 1988).
2.4 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among Adolescents
According to WHO, data on the incidence of sexually transmitted disease among adolescents are not available on a global level, but there are indications that STDs are more prevalent among 15–29 year olds than among older adults (WHO, 1989b). This is especially likely in countries where youth have more sexual partners prior to marriage and adults have fewer sexual partners outside of marriage.