what do you see as a realistic solution for lowering the abortion rate (please read details before answering)?

Question

this question is for anti-abortionists, but pro-choice can answer too. please be respectful in your responses. this is a legitamate request for a real answer.

according to this publication 2006:
http://www.guttmacher.org/presentations/ab_slides.html

in 2002 there were 1.3 million abortions in the u.s.
of the women
70% identified as christian (protestant, catholic, evangelical, and born again)
22% none
8% other

it seems like religion isn't having much effect on the decision not to abort.

HIGH rates of abortions still happen in the countries who illegalize it (nigeria, mexico, brazil, dom. rep., chile, peru). it doesn't stop it from happening, it just makes it unsafe. it also results more abandoned children. with this knowledge in mind, illegalizing it doesn't seem to be a realistic or healthy solution to the problem.

a good portion of abortion cases use contraceptives, though not always correctly. many happen in steady relationships and in ones that already have chlidren.

also wanted to add that ohio just changed their abstinence program to include contraceptives because in one high school 13% of the girls became pregnant last year.

Answer 1

Part one, we need to get rid of the "abstinence only" education in schools. Teens need to know about birth control and condoms. Let's stop pretending that teens don't have sex, they do!
Get parents to be more involved in their kids lives, know what's going on in their lives. That helps too.

Part two, We need easier access for ALL WOMEN, REGARDLESS OF INCOME to health care and contraception. This would cut down on the rates of unwanted pregnancies. Plan B is a big step forward. For some reason over the years, people who object to pre-marital sex have spread the lie that birth control can cause an abortion. NO, it doesn't. It Prevents unwanted pregnancy.

Answer 2

And if you research further, you will find a large percentage of women are over 40. This age group thinks, erronously, that they can't get pregnant and do. This sets up the mother and child for problems. The older the mother, the more likely problems will occur; downs syndrone, diabetes, etc.

What is the answer? Well, we've had abortion be illegal and women did it in back alley, dirty, unsafe places. Many died or were horribly mamed. It didn't stop them.

Probably better contraception, more education, better morals, would be a start.

I have not seen those figures you give about 70% being Christian, but then anyone can say their are, and do.

Answer 3

I'll say up-front that I am in favor of abortion rights, and I probably wouldn't be answering this if it weren't for the fact that those rights are overtly under attack right now and I feel like now's the time to speak up. That doesn't mean I deny that this can be a painful, complicated issue for everyone involved. But I agree: In the past, every single measure that's been taken to make abortion unavailable to women has backfired: more deaths of women in pregnancy and childbirth, including in the course of botched illegal abortions; more precious children brought into a world that seems to recognize their worth only while they're in the womb, and wants nothing to do with their well-being once they've left it.

The "value of human life" is a useful slogan to bring out anytime this debate is raised, but so often it seems like no more than a slogan. What ACTUALLY happens--not, what SHOULD happen--to all those kids born to moms/dads who hadn't planned for them and didn't really want them? Even if a bad choice was made at conception, should that child have to pay, maybe with their life (through abuse), for the tragic fact that no one wanted them to be born? I honestly look forward to seeing if some of your anti-abortion respondents have a new perspective for me, and I'll be checking in.

Answer 4

If you are a child, or young adult, or adult, and are taught that pro-choice is a legal right, and that it is not murder, well then, you will "assume" abortion is morally OK, since we all "assume" we live in a moral society within the rule of law.

If you are are child, or young adult, or adult, and are taught that life begins at the moment of conception, that abortion destroys "Human Potential", well then, you will believe abortion is morally wrong.

The issue must first address the moral issue. The root issue is: are we created beings or are we random quirks of nature? If we are random quirks of nature, then, abortion makes no difference in the grand scheme of nature. Thus, can natural creation be shown to be true. If not, then we are forced to conclude that we are created beings.

If we are created beings, then abortion is morally wrong, for it destroys created the "Human Potential" that is genetically determined at the moment of conception.

I realized you were asking a specific question. However, to answer it you must take a step back and answer the root moral and philosophical questions, first. That has not been done yet.

Sorry for the brief reply to this tough question.

Answer 5

I'm pro-choice, but I don't agree with abortions in most cases. I agree with you that we shouldn't make it illegal, but instead find ways to prevent it.

Ideas:

-Better sex education, including information on all the contraceptives and how to use them correctly
-More resources for teens who are at risk of becoming teen parents
-More support and acceptance from society in general for young parents who keep their children
-More public information on abortion procedures and fetal development. I think that before giving an abortion, doctors should be required to carefully explain the procedure, as well as inform the woman about her baby's development at that point. Realizing that her baby is a tiny human being might deter some women from going through with it.

Answer 6

In some cultures (more accurately, subcultures), you find girls as young as 12 who want to have a baby. Somehow, it would make them all grown up. Except it doesn't work out that way and you end up with abortion or unwanted / badly cared for baby.

If you can reach them, you could make a big difference. I'm thinking a genetic mod that prevents sexual maturity until age 20 (or more) would be a good idea.

Answer 7

Actually, religion DOES have a serious effect. Only about 5% of the country is athiest, so 20% is a MAJOR deviation. Correlation isn't causation ... but they are correlated!

If anything, it shows that OTHER religions are less likely to have an abortion than Christians. Weird and wiggy.

Lower the abortion rate? The planet's overpopulated enough as is. Adoption isn't the answer; there are plenty of unadopted kids already.

Let's just flood the world with radioactivity, making people sterile (or at least less productive than before). That'll make human life more valuable.

Answer 8

Teaching not only abstinence but also all form of birth control and how to properly use them. Many adults don't know that taking antibiotics can make birth control pills, patches, shots, etc ineffective. If many adults don't know, then think of how many teens won't know.
Being honest and open about sex with our children. I have a daughter who is almost 18, I have always been honest with her about sex and birth control and std's. She came to me a few months ago and asked me to take her to get on birth control as she was starting to consider having sex with her boyfriend. I took her, I also went over all the myths and facts of birth control, pregnancy, std's and sex. More kids should feel they can speak to their parents about sex and not feel embarrassed or worry that they will just say no way. If I had told her no she would still have had sex, just without the birth control leaving her with a higher chance of getting pregnant. Many of my friends taught their kids only abstinence, many of them found out their kids were having unprotected sex and one resulted in a pregnancy. I think giving them all the information and not tailoring it to what we want them to do is a big step.

Answer 9

Teaching a respect for human life.

This is not as obvious as it appears, because what does respect mean? You hit upon it in your question, seeking truth, listening, discerning others ideas, and participating in solutions.

I am adamantly Pro Life. This means I want ALL persons to recognize their value and potential in this world. I want most especially equality for ALL human beings.

Women are not objects, men are not raw animals, children are not trophies, parents are not the police, grandparents are not old crazies! The homeless are not lazy, the poor are not moochers, the rich are not greedy. People are brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, parents, friends. associates, people.

Answer 10

I think the federal gov. took a huge step in making the Plan B pills legal over the counter. I think after a condom breaks, or just plain have unprotected sex for whatever reason, a woman can prevent that unwanted pregnancy. I think we will see big reductions in unwanted pregnancy, expecially if the Plan B isn't hugely expensive.