Abortion among Adolescents in Israel: Intervention and Health Behavior Outcomes. Issue 4 (28th August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Preis, Heidi; Prager, Malka; Bershtling, Orit
• Is Part Of: Health & social work. Volume 43:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 243
• Page End: 252
• Publication Date: 2018-08-28
• Subjects: abortion -- adolescents -- contraceptive counseling -- intervention assessment -- post-abortion care; Medical social work -- Periodicals; Medical social work -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Periodicals; 362.10425
• DOI: 10.1093/hsw/hly022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-7283

Abstract

Abstract: The current study investigated the post-abortion health behaviors of adolescents. Authors assessed the association between pre-abortion interventions and receiving post-abortion checkups and uptake of effective contraceptives. Participants were 172 adolescents under 19 years of age who were recruited pre-abortion at 10 hospitals in Israel and followed up by phone one and two months post-abortion. Results indicate that a quarter of participants did not receive a post-abortion checkup. The reported reasons for this were mostly personal, with very few cases attributed to accessibility issues. Rates of effective contraceptive use increased from the pre- to post-abortion periods but were still not high. Longer duration of pre-abortion counseling with a social worker, having the checkup where the abortion took place, and parental involvement increased the odds of having a post-abortion checkup. Getting a prescription for oral contraceptive pills at the time of abortion increased the odds of uptake one month post-abortion. Nonadherence to post-abortion recommendations is a problem with the potential to cause health risks and more unintended pregnancies. Effective social work interventions to promote behavioral change are needed, especially those based on theory and evidence.