From option to action: The abortion decision in adolescence

Abstract

Approximately 1.1 million adolescent women become pregnant every year, and nearly 40% choose to terminate their pregnancies. This study explored pregnancy termination decisions of sixteen adolescent females in the southwestern United States. A demographic and decision making survey, Smilkstein's, et al. (1981) Family and Friends' Apgars and a sexual knowledge inventory were used to measure factors relevant to abortion decisions in this age group. Some expected results of the study included a lack of sexual knowledge and a greater degree of satisfaction with friends than with family. Participants reported overall but conflicted satisfaction with their abortion decisions. The small sample size and the fact that the majority of the participants were interviewed immediately after their abortions limits the findings. Recommendation is made for nurses to take a more active role in pregnancy prevention, protection of legal rights, and counseling activities to respond to this health problem.