Teenage abortion numbers shoot up

The number of women who had an abortion in a state hospital in the past financial year increased to 90000, up by 20000 on the previous year.

And most of them, 54000, or 60%, were teenagers.

Of the 37000 abortions at Marie Stopes clinics a round the country in the past financial year, 8% of them were performed on teenagers, the NGO' s strategic communications manager, Andrea Thompson, said.

Health Department spokesman Joe Maila said that of the roughly one million women who become pregnant annually, 8% are teenagers.

The Health System Trust recorded a reduction in the number of deliveries involving mothers younger than 18, from 9.2% in 2007-2008 to 7.7% in 2012-2013.

Maila said: "More teenagers are having abortions and the numbers are scary.

"[About] 60% [of abortions] are being done on teenagers.

"We have not been keeping data sorted by age but we plan to do so next year."

The Health Department said it was unable to say whether the drop in deliveries involving mothers under 18 was directly related to the increase in teen abortions.

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act came into effect in February 1997. It is one of the most liberal abortion laws in the world and was aimed at reducing the high incidence of backstreet abortions.

Under the law, abortion services can be made available on request to a woman during the first 12 weeks of her pregnancy.

It makes provision for minors to be given an abortion without the consent of their parents.

Karabo, 15, had an abortion at a state hospital. She has spoken of her experience to her peers and advised them not to make her mistakes, such as having sex without a condom.

"It was a family decision for me to have an abortion and it affected me emotionally. All I remember is that I was absent from reality for at least two weeks."

Africa Christian Action co-ordinator Taryn Hodgson said women who have an abortion often become depressed and can become suicidal.

"Young girls resort to substance abuse and try to numb their feelings. That is why there is such a high level of alcohol abuse among teenagers," she said.