Research recently published in the October 2009 edition of the BJOG by Drs PS Shah and J Zao on behalf of Toronto University concludes that Induced Termination of Pregnancy (ITOP) ‘is associated with significantly increased risks of Low Birth Weight/Pre-Term births.’
Dr Shah’s research, included 37 studies and over 250,000 females. He concludes that women who have had one ITOP increase their chance of Low Birth Weights (LBW) and Pre-Term (PT) births by a worrying 35%. Women who have had more than one ITOP, increase their chances of LBW birth by more than double to 72% and their chances of a PT birth increase to a colossal 93%.
Dr Shah elaborated on the scientific plausibility of his findings by citing three mechanisms which could increase the chance of a pre-term birth. These included mechanical trauma when attempting to dilate the woman’s cervix and failure to completely remove the embryo or foetus when carrying out the termination, subsequently leading to infection.
Research of this sort rarely receives adequate media coverage within the UK. Efforts to inform are frustrated by a media reluctant to expose the negative impacts of abortion for both woman and child. Furthermore, no matter how extensive the exposure, it will always be met with a deafening cacophony of arguments based on the value that ‘choice’ possesses infinite supremacy over all over things, regardless of the detrimental impact on woman, child and future children. Thus Professor Stuart Campbell’s research, most notable for his 4D images of the unborn child walking in the womb, has not succeeded in galvanising parliamentarians to amend law in a way which acknowledges these scientific revelations. Nevertheless, campaigners continue their efforts to cite expanding evidence of the unborn child’s humanity, in order to illustrate the problems with abortion. This material is conveniently ignored. Instead it is met with the incessant insistence that women are entitled to choose what they do with their own bodies; the intellectual equivalent of fingers in ears and “la, la, la!”
If we even momentarily conform to the value that choice champions all other considerations then full disclosure of research such as Dr Shah’s should surely be crucial for those making choices about abortion. Choice has to be properly informed.
Issues concerning public health have become increasingly politicised in recent years. As the Health Bill currently progresses through Parliament, debate has frequently addressed the issue of public awareness regarding health risks, so individuals can make informed choices. Consider for example, the anti-smoking campaign which has made remarkable progess under New Labour. Smoking in public places is now banned, and you cannot purchase a packet of cigars or cigarettes without a disturbing image of blackened lungs, or a prominent message alerting one to the fatal health risks that stem from smoking. Indeed this particular campaign has gone from one of public health to a Government sponsored moral crusade. The Government is by no means reluctant to legislate and pontificate on certain issues in the name of public health.
It will be interesting then to observe how Dr Shah’s research is received in the UK by politicians, health professionals and policy makers. It is important, nevertheless, to remember that this research indicates a strong association between ITOP and PT, but not as yet causation. Consequently, further scientific investigation is vital, in order to fully understand the risks involved when a woman chooses abortion.
When concluding his research Dr Shah argues that given there are over one million abortions in the US per year, women deserve to know the risks concerning I-TOP, ‘not only for their health but also for the future of their reproductive potential.’ Champions of choice should be keen to cultivate a culture of information through exposure of this particular study, so that the significant choices that women make in relationship to termination of pregnancy, are as informed as possible. And this recommendation goes for the United Kingdom, not just the USA.
