Birthrates Among Teenagers are Unaffected When States Require Parental Involvement in Their Abortion Decisions

Abstract

This report presents the findings of a C. Ellerton study of the effects of abortion parental consent or notification laws on the birthrate of adolescents in Minnesota Missouri and Indiana US. Data were obtained from state health departments and the Census Bureau. The study was published in the 1997 American Journal of Public Health. Minnesota and Indiana were states that were surrounded by ones without restrictions on abortions. Missouri was used to estimate the odds that minors would travel out of state to obtain an abortion or delay seeking a procedure. Findings indicate that in all 3 states the parental involvement laws did not affect teen birthrates. The in-state abortion rate for minors decreased in all 3 states after the parental involvement laws went into effect. In Missouri the odds of traveling to another state for abortions increased by 53% when the parental consent law went into effect. The odds of out of state travel increased only 13% for 18-19 year olds and 18% for 20-24 year olds. Findings suggest that Missouris abortion rate decline among in-state teenagers may have been accounted for entirely by teenagers traveling out of state for abortions. In Minnesota the odds that women would wait longer than 8 weeks rose 10% among minors and declined 2-3% among older women during the enforcement period. The odds that minors would delay abortions past 8 weeks or 3 months declined by 22-23% after the state lifted the legislation. A number of reasons are offered to explain the abortion rate declines and the stable birthrates.