Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Christchurch Health and Development Study

Christchurch Health and Development Study

The Christchurch Health and Development Study recently released its study “Abortion among Young Women and Subsequent Life Outcomes” Data was drawn from492 women participating in a 25 year longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort of 1265 children born in the Christchurch region in 1977.

Of the 492 women surveyed 125 had been pregnant before attaining the age of 21 years, 48 had had an abortion and 77 had chosen life for their baby. The study revealed that those women who had an abortion had higher levels of subsequent educational achievement than those who became pregnant but did not have abortions.

Professor David Fergusson, the executive director of the study concedes that the differences between the two groups were largely explained by the fact “that those who had an abortion were a more socially and educationally advantaged group prior to pregnancy”. He also stated that because of the small number who had been pregnant and did not have an abortion is small [77], further study with a larger group is desirable.

The study gives a high priority to educational achievement which is focussed on University, tertiary study and qualifications. It is noted that women who had not been pregnant before 21 achieved better than those women who had an abortion or a live birth. Professor Fergusson noted that those who had a baby before 21 “had significantly lower intelligence scores and levels of educational achievement in childhood”.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Right to Life believes that University or tertiary education is not necessary for a happy and fulfilled life. Abortion entails the killing of an innocent and defenceless unborn child. There are no reasons that justify the taking of the life of a child before birth. This study has the purpose of providing justification for the taking of life, it infers that having an abortion “leads to improved life course outcomes for young women who chose this option”, it is thus promoting a culture of death. We congratulate those women in the study who in spite of pressure from an aborting society courageously chose life for their baby. For those women who had an abortion we extend our compassion, for they are the second victims of abortion.

We should remember that the same researchers with the same cohort of women in a study released in January 2006 found that at age 25, 42% of women in the study group who had an abortion also experienced major depression. This was nearly double the rate of those who had never been pregnant and 35% higher than those who had chosen to continue a pregnancy. Those having an abortion had elevated rates of subsequent mental health problems including depression anxiety, suicidal behaviours and substance use disorders.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On Labour’s Fear Of Commitment


For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New Zealand. Regardless, it seems that Chris Hipkins and his Labour Party team will need two more years of careful scrutiny before they might possibly, could perhaps, might conceivably be willing to adopt a CGT as official Labour policy, by around the time that Election 2026 rolls around. We can hardly wait...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.