Monday 21 December 2009

Abortion stats

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_099285

http://www.tommys.org/Page.aspx?pid=376

2 out of 5 women drink alcohol during pregnancy

1 in 4 women (28%) drink between 2 and 5 units of alcohol a week, double the recommended weekly limit - even though these activities can cause mental retardation and birth defects in babies

24% of women continue to smoking during pregnancy and only one-third give up before giving birth.

(Source: MIDIRS Midwifery Digest March 2001 Vol 11 No 1.)

Pregnant women less than 18 years old are more likely to delivery preterm than older women.

(Source: Obstetrics & Gynecology 2000; 96 (6): 962-966.)

Young single mothers are three times more likely than older women to experience postnatal depression.

(Source: British Medical Journal 2001; 322: 386.)

Death rate for babies and very young children of teenage mothers is 60% higher than that for children of older women.

(Source: British Medical Journal 2001; 322: 386 [Irish parliamentary committee on teenage parenting issues)