Conceptions and misconceptions. Decisions about pregnancy

Feminism and Health in the Decade of Behavior

National health data are presented to demonstrate that important issues of women's health are linked to inequality and to the generalized oppression of women. Health issues of violence, reproductive health, coronary health, and mental health are reviewed as they relate to women of color and diverse ethnicity as well as to women in general. Feminist principles are applied to these issues, pointing out inequalities in assessment, treatment and access to care, bias in research and lack of research on topics particularly relevant to women and minorities, and limitations in the education and training of health care providers. It is imperative that these problems, which are not solely biological, be addressed in light of systems-level analysis that includes a feminist lens. Guided by feminist principles and sensibilities, the relevance of behavioral and social science is outlined for research, training, assessment, intervention, evaluation, and overall social change.

Judicial bypass of parental consent for abortion: characteristics of pregnant minor "Jane Doe's"

Pregnant minors can obtain an abortion without parental consent through a judicial bypass procedure in 38 states. To grant such a petition in Ohio, the Court must determine that the young woman is either "sufficiently mature and well enough informed to intelligently decide whether to have an abortion," or that notification of her parents is "not in her best interest," usually due to abuse. For the sake of anonymity in these emotionally and politically charged cases, the evaluee is referred to as "Jane Doe." This project sought to describe characteristics of teenagers seeking judicial bypass for abortion, which have not been well described in the scientific literature. Data were collected from Jane Doe evaluations completed at a metropolitan juvenile court psychiatric clinic, over 3 years. The mean age of the evaluees (N = 55) was 16.4 years. The vast majority (95%) were granted a judicial bypass. They usually had long-term boyfriends of comparable age. They had often told trusted adults about their pregnancy, though not their parents, due to concerns of violence or being excluded from the family. This study presents the first comprehensive description of characteristics of minors seeking judicial bypasses for abortion. Psychiatrists may apply general principles of informed consent in such evaluations, including ascertaining whether the decision is being made voluntarily, knowingly, and with sufficient decision-making capacity.

Abortion in adolescence: a four-country comparison

The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparison, using qualitative analytic methodology, of perceptions concerning abortion among health care providers and administrators, along with politicians and anti-abortion activists (total n = 75) in Great Britain, Sweden, The Netherlands, and the United States. In none of these countries was there consensus about abortion prior to legalization, and, in all countries, public discussion continues to be present. In general, after legalization of abortion has no longer made it a volatile issue European countries have refocused their energy into providing family planning services, education, and more straightforward access to abortion compared with similar activities in the United States.