Studies in family planning
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Comparative Study
Legislation on contraception and abortion for adolescents.
The serious health and social consequences of adolescent pregnancy call for the examination of the laws that affect adolescents' access to contraception and abortion. The general law of any country relating to the availability, sale, or distribution and financing of contraceptives affects adolescents. Similarly, a country's general law on abortion applies to adolescents faced with unwanted pregnancy and affects them accordingly. In addition, special legislation relating to adolescents, particularly legislation or court decisions concerning parental consent for contraception or abortion for a minor, has an important influence on the access that sexually active young people have to services.
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In 1983, one-quarter of married Guatemalan women aged 15-44 years were using contraception, and female sterilization was the most prevalent method. Fertility rates for the population were at correspondingly high levels, with an overall total fertility rate of about six births per woman. ⋯ From 1978 to 1983, prevalence increased overall by six percentage points, with surgical contraception accounting for most of the increase. Findings of the study suggest that different strategies need to be employed among Ladino and Indian women in order to increase contraceptive prevalence in these subgroups.