A recent British Medical Journal article has claimed that pregnancy is more likely to cause depression than abortion and the termination of the pregnancy. However, the comments have been disputed greatly by many of the organisations that work in post-abortion counselling, says Citra Abbott of the Live & Kicking campaign.
The Live and Kicking campaign is an alliance recently formed to reduce the number of abortions seen in the UK each year. Abbott said, “Arguments are regularly put forward from both sides of this debate but the evidence of the psychological consequences of abortion remains for us the most compelling. And from our pro-life perspective there will always be something deeply disturbing about anybody trying to prove that pregnancy, rather than termination, is more likely to lead to depression. The close association of Nancy Russo, one of the authors of today's research, with the ProChoice Forum, has not gone unnoticed.”She added, “The reality is, however, that we do not wish to see depression associated with any aspect of a woman's child-bearing capacity. Part of our current campaign against abortion is to try and ensure that financial, educational and general social inequalities are addressed positively so that women are never discriminated against when they find themselves pregnant. This has to be a better solution than simply offering to terminate the life of their child and leave women in the same position as before.”
According to Abbott, a recent Alive & Kicking opinion poll has shown that both Parliament and the public have expressed their concerns about abortion in the UK.
The polls show that 81 percent of the public agree that 200,000 abortions a year is excessive, and that something had to be done to help reduce and control this number. Abbott also pointed out that interestingly the poll’s results were greatly supported by women.
The poll conducted by CommunicateResearch interviewed a representative sample of 1005 GB adults between 21st and 23rd October 2005. The Parliamentary poll was conducted between 7th and 24th June 2005 with a representative sample of 154 MPs.
Recently the Evangelical Alliance has given its full backing to the Live & Kicking campaign.
The Director of Public Policy at the Evangelical Alliance, R. David Muir said, “This research confirms already existing scientific evidence which suggests that the abortion law has not kept up with knowledge about development in the womb.
“It is particularly interesting and significant that the new poll shows that of those offering an opinion more than six in ten (62%) believe the 24-week abortion limit should be lowered ‘significantly’ given that more than 80% of babies born at that age survive. Among the 18-24 age group support rises to 75% and among women support stands at 66% (compared to 58% of men). The Alive and Kicking campaign commands our full support.”
Abbott continued, “It is the right time to conduct proper inquiry into the practice of abortion, with all peripheral aspects taken into account as well. Principally we need to know why there are so many abortions and what measures are being taken to address the issues which lead women to this decision.”
Live & Kicking’s Citra Abbott concluded, “It is time for full Parliamentary inquiry into abortion and rigorous review of the Abortion Act.”
