Lecture 21 - Global Demography of Abortion

Abortion is very common both worldwide and in the US. There is one abortion for every 3.2 live births. In places where contraception is not used, abortion is used as birth control. Neither legal nor religious proscriptions have a strong effect on abortion rates. In countries where abortion is illegal, maternal death rates are extraordinarily high. Legal, medically done abortions are safer than getting pregnant. Psychological responses depend on the individual and the culture. Reading assignment: Campbell, Neil A., Jane B. Reece and Lawrence G. Mitchell. Biology, 5th ed., pp. 228-231 Belanger, Daniele and Andrea Flynn. "The Persistence of Induced Abortion in Cuba." Studies in Family Planning, no. 40 (2009), pp. 13-26 Carlson, Elof. Mendel's Legacy: The Origin of Classical Genetics, pp. 32-35 Gladwell, Malcolm. "Dr. Rock's Error." The New Yorker, 13 March 2000, pp. 52-63 The Associated Press. "Agency Approves a Birth-Control Pill Halting Periods Indefinitely." The New York Times, 23 May 2007 Resources: [[http://oyc.yale.edu/sites/default/files/mcdblecture21notes_0.pdf|Notes - Lecture 21 [PDF]]]