An abortion can cause five years of mental anguish, anxiety, guilt and even shame, a BMC Medicine study suggests. University of Oslo researchers compared 40 women who had had a miscarriage with 80 who chose to have an abortion. Miscarriage was associated with more mental distress in the six months after the loss of a baby – but abortion had a much longer lasting negative effect. Pro-choice campaigners said there was no evidence abortion directly caused psychological trauma. The researchers said their work underlined the importance of giving women information about the psychological effects of losing a baby – either through miscarriage or abortion. The Oslo team found that, after 10 days, 47.5% of women who had miscarried suffered from some degree of mental distress compared with 30% of the abortion group. The proportion of women who had a miscarriage suffering distress decreased during the study period, to 22.5% at six months and to just 2.6% at two years and five years. But among the abortion group 25.7% were still experiencing distress after six months, and 20% at five years. The researchers also said that women who had an abortion had to make an effort to avoid thinking about the event. Complex response The researchers, led by Anne Nordal Broen, said the responses of the women in the miscarriage group were similar to those expected after a traumatic life event. However, the abortion group had more complex responses. Richard Warren, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “It has always been considered, and this study also shows, that the decision to terminate may bring with it long-standing feelings of anxiety and guilt. “While most women are able to manage and cope with these feelings, when necessary, the need for ongoing support and counselling should be recognised and appropriate help given.” Anna Pringle, from the anti-abortion charity Life, said: “This confirms years of experience with women who come to us for counselling after abortion. “The emotional suffering can be massive.” Thoughtful decision However, a spokeswoman for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service – the UK’s leading provider of abortion services – said most women weighed up the consequences fully before opting for an abortion. “We don’t see that many women for post-abortion counselling. “We offer that service but women very rarely come back because they are able to cope with it by themselves.” A spokeswoman for the Family Planning Association, said: “There is no evidence to suggest that abortion directly causes psychological trauma. “Women can experience mixed feelings after an abortion such as relief or sadness. “These are natural reactions and few women experience long-term problems.”
The dark knight
January 20, 2012 at 4:42 pm
only..
Bebe oluga
January 20, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Wish we could spare the lives of these innocent souls. We all have ONLY one life to live here on earth yet some have given themselves power and authority to deny others this privilege. Dont let them die in vain!
Babygal
January 20, 2012 at 5:40 pm
We always tell u beta use condom than bin guilty for 5yrs.
janet c
January 20, 2012 at 6:11 pm
I have said on this blog before – abortion should be legalised upto 3 months mwe bantu. Abortions are taking place daily in backstreet places by un-qualified medical personnel.
Some women are left scarred, whilst others dont even survive.
Those arguing for ‘keep the baby’ – ppl’s circumstances are different. Every woman has the right to choose – even married women in zambia abort! So instead of letting women go through the indignity of a backstreet, unsafe abortion, let us be responsible citizesn and legalise it and publicise the fact that one can have a termination of pregnancy (TOP) at UTH upto 3 months. Only then will horro stories of aborted babies being dumped in dustbins stop – it is common at UNZA, Evelyn Hone for one to find an aborted baby in a dustbin – sometimes even half eaten by cats or rats. Simply because the girl had no money to pay the illegal abortionist.
Set zambian women free to decide – and when they do decide, let it be done safely. When done safely and in good time, an abortion is actually safer than haveing your tooth extracted
:)
January 20, 2012 at 6:23 pm
janet c has a point, and also how many pregnancies are caused by rape n endanger the life of the mother,its important in such cases that the choice is left up to the woman. that said tho, remember to use a condom or take contraceptive that are available are many places, when u have sex u are making a choice…do so wisely!
Bbala Ngombe
January 20, 2012 at 8:08 pm
U may wonder where some pipo hav taken there concience,@janet c hw do u promot killing?abortion is murder and murder is a sin both in the eye of a moraly up right human nd in the eyes of God.think twice wat if u were aborted?
Miss G
January 20, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Janet ur rite. Thoz condeming ha shud luk at thoz malnourishd, sick o cripled children n say its ok 4 thm 2 b aliv in such circumstances! I wud neva gv birth 2 a child whom am sure z going 2 suffer!
Dodolin
January 20, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Janet c you are talking sense. My friend is married, she has 3 children. When she had her last child they agreed not to have another child. She asked her hubby that they go to the hosp for the operation that she stops having children, the hubby refused. She can not use contraceptives coz of her bp. Now she’s pregnant and the hubby is furious, he has not touched her for a month now. She’s now thinking of an abortion.
Dada
January 20, 2012 at 11:41 pm
ladies, abortion is never a way out. u dnt know wat the future holds for those unborn. I’m totally against it, it is wrong n thrz no two ways about it. just bcz pipo do doesn’t mean that its ryt. legalizing it will just make pipo more irresponsible… no no no!!!
Air Mukwai_
January 21, 2012 at 6:38 am
@ janet c, Miss G & Dodolin
1.ladies abortion is malevolence that need not be acquiesced unless it’s favorably by the doctor at the perilousness health state of the mother.
2.life commences instantly at the fusion of male and female gametes. thereafter one has to be sentient in deeds and become responsible of the repercussion.
3.abortion is KILLING a nameless human being. that child would be the only one you may have or terminating the future leader.
4.a few ladies that terminate fetuses are validated by medical personal NEVER to have a children unless by adoption which deprives the lady power.
5.Think twice or ONCE in preference to the decision you reckon to be.
Bbala Ngombe
January 21, 2012 at 7:25 am
If u know dat u r not read 4 a child,why involve yoself in sexual activities?i thot it is easy to teach pipo to abstain,than to ecourage them 2 abort.guyz lets be careful with western teaching,most of these pipo r ant christ.there is no good which worth taking someone’s life. U dont whipe blood with blood.abortion is barbaric,inhuman and evil.
Profi
January 21, 2012 at 10:56 am
its safe to abort within the first 8 weeks, the cheapest and safest is ‘ukutonkola’ very common zambian way of gettin rid of unwanted pregnancies…
christopher
January 21, 2012 at 11:54 am
It realy disturbs me hearing pipo with some level of education advocating for abortion! What kind of society do you guys want us to be? If you know you are not ready for the pregnance, why involve yourself in sex? Someone is even freely contemplating abortion whilst in marriage! It would be foolish of the couple(s) terminating a God given blessing at the expence of just not wanting it! Please may we at all cost refrain from this barbaric way of thinking, the Book of Life (BIBLE)clearly says “thy shall not kill” medidate upon this statement, where do you get the idea of killing from when God the Author of everything is against it? May whoever is encouraging this kind of life style be visited by the Holly Spirit and be delivered in the name of Jusus. May you begin to value life as God does, I don’t want to refer you to as vipers, may you receive councel and may whatever chains by which you are bound by satan be broken right now in Jesus’ name. Remember you were once an unborn child guess what would have happened had your parents foolishly aborted you! Whatever form the pregnance comes in, please children of God I berg you, KEEP IT. I strongly believe that with time one day when you give your life to Jesus, God is going to talk to you and you will begin to realise how valuable one’s life is. You are the reason why Jesus had to die on that cross of calvary, you can be forgiven, just leave your old ways of doing things, those wrong perceiptions. I love you and Jesus Loves you the most!
christopher
January 21, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Please “Profi” there is nothing like unwanted Pregnance or safe methods or period of time of termination, the most vital thing you should bear in mind is LIFE, what is it to you? Do you realise that you are “life?” Please take advantge of your privelege of having some knowledge to contribute to the whole world positively.
Tild
January 21, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Dodolin we o kno wat hapen wen sex is done stop lyin at bp so yo frnd cnt tek contrcpt dere is wat they call loop its nt medical n it hs zero effects n prevnts against civiacal cancer go n find out at de hospital. now u hw many tymz is yo frend goin 2 abort(kill) coz as soon as she wil ve sex afta killin she’ll b up! So pliz suck it up n face de conseques of sex bana redy o nt! echo tamwakulafyalila murderas
TIS
January 22, 2012 at 2:00 am
Oneday I learned that I was pregnant and I felt like the whole world turned upside down. I didnt know how I was going to take care of my child. I was in the western world where abortion is legal and I was given that choice when I visited the heath care provider. I contemplated on it and read wisely. My final decision was to keep the baby. My child is now 12years old. A very beautiful, down to earth and intelligent girl. When I say intelligent, I mean top in the class who dreams of becoming a doctor oneday. I thank God everyday that I decided against abortion and God provided for us all these years.
When you abort, you may be killing someone who is sent by God to come and save you from the same Poverty you you think you want to avoid.
Think twice ladies before you do it. I am totally against it.
Ready 4 Marriage
January 22, 2012 at 1:04 pm
There are penty of drugs that one can use to abort. even coatem and ather anti maralia drugs do work. so dont think that the rate is low in zambia. 95% marriade couples abort using such methods though they dont disclose to us,virgins
alicia
January 22, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Life is precious.
Profi
January 22, 2012 at 5:13 pm
@christopher, some pregnancies are conceived through sexual abuse (rape) some are by ‘accident’ because of luck of sexual education among the youth….those are definitely unwanted!
In most cases where a girl gets pregnant accidentally she is left to fend for the child alone while the boy would move on.. her education is messed up and so is her future, its only wise to get rid of the ‘mistake’ before putting an innocent life thru endless suffering and no father for support. Dont you think? There my positive contribution to the world.
p?s and come to think of it just look at how many bastárds are running around as street beggers it a sad sight.
Bbala Ngombe
January 22, 2012 at 7:57 pm
@PROFI,there is nothing like unwanted pregnance,all those who hav sex knows very well the out come of sexual intercores.unless u say unplanned pregnan,but this does not give us the right to kill innocent unborn life.no one owns life,life belongs to God n one day we shall all stand before God 2 give account of his life.y sud we run away frm resposibility of life n resort to kill,in the name of unwanted pregnance. Abortion is a sin n all those who do it r sinners n muderers.dat is y most couple hav no children becoz of abotions before marriege.GOD THE GIVER OF LIFE.
vitumbuwa
January 22, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Abortion is bad, zambia should never legalise it, it should only be performed if the mother n baby are in dangerI am in the western world were abortion is legal, I started a new relationship with a man n after 5 months I fell pregnant I was shocked, I thought I couldn’t get pregnant after a previous 5yr relationship were I never got pregnant. The doctor asked if I wanted n abortion n I agreed the worst decision in my life, an african woman at the hospital discouraged me she told me to pray but my partner really wanted me to “get rid of it” I was in so much pain, I hated myself for what I did, I have been blessed with a baby but I still think about the child I aborted n reading this story brought tears to my soul every child needs a chance, if ur pregnant its not by accident but God always knows if u don’t want a baby abstain from sex becoz contraception can fail Abortion is bad its evil n selfishness I would never encourage anyone just pray n seek God
DOLLAR BILLS
January 23, 2012 at 8:01 am
@Alicia I CONQUER WITH U.
Equinox
January 23, 2012 at 8:33 am
@ Bbala Ngombe, that fact that you can not even spell words properly just shows how dull you are. You have no idea about ‘unwanted pregnancies’ so just stay put!
Many african women have been gang raped by soliders during their countries civil wars (congo, liberia, sierra leone…etc) Please Do your maths! Here…. some documentaries that will help you open your eyes on youtube. ( Emipre in Africa, Children of Congo, From War to Witches, Pray the Devil back to Hell…and many more……) I doubt that your so called ‘God’ gives ‘LIFE’ through raping of women.
gal
January 23, 2012 at 1:10 pm
lets not pretend.. this is happening don’t judge others. you dont abort but you sin in so many ways its jst that people cant see the results of your sin. stop the judging game!
tirzah tembo
January 23, 2012 at 2:45 pm
abortion is bad…..
Virgin
January 24, 2012 at 10:12 am
Three abortions no joke,look at me now can not get pregnant anymore.