The Coalition for the Defence of Human Life is concerned that the current abortion debate ignores clear evidence that abortion increases negative health outcomes for women.
“In the risk-benefit analysis, abortion is associated with unacceptable mental health outcomes for women,” said CDHL spokesperson Maryka Groenewald.
“A 2018 macro-analysis of over 800,000 women across 22 studies concluded that women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems, and nearly 10% of the incidence of mental health problems was attributable to abortion.
“A New Zealand macro-analysis in 2013 concluded that there is no available evidence to suggest that abortion has therapeutic effects in reducing the mental health risks of unwanted or unintended pregnancy.”
Instead, the NZ study authors said that abortion was associated with increases in risks of anxiety, alcohol misuse, illicit drug use, and suicidal behaviour.
“A Canadian study in 2010 found a strong association between abortion and mental disorders. For all disorders examined, around one-half of women with a mental disorder reported that it had begun after the first abortion.
“A large study of suicides after pregnancy in Finland found that the risk of suicide after an induced abortion was three times higher than among women of reproductive age in general, whereas suicide after birth was half that of the general rate.”
“Based on these research conclusions, lawmakers cannot ignore the clear evidence that abortion lacks any benefit for women, and instead greatly harms women,” said Mrs Groenewald.
“Abortion is not a good solution for unwanted pregnancies,” said CDHL President Darryl Budge.
“As a father of three awesome children, I firmly believe that mothers and fathers who experience pregnancy need to be offered compassionate holistic care and practical support, not encouraged to dispose of their child,” he said.
ENDS
About us:
Maryka Groenewald is the principal petitioner for the Abortion Reforms parliamentary e-petition. And the WA State Director of the Australian Christians political party.
Darryl Budge is the WA State Director of FamilyVoice Australia, and the President of the Coalition for the Defence of Human Life, an organisation that defends human life from conception to natural death.
Contact details:
Maryka Groenewald
CDHL Rally For Life Co-Chair
Darryl Budge
CDHL President and CDHL Rally for Life Co-Chair
Email: admin@cdhl.org.au
