Australian Digital Theses Program

Thesis Details
Title	Motherhood or abortion: Pregnancy resolution decisions of Australian teenagers
Author	Evans, Ann
Institution	The Australian National University
Date	2001
Abstract	Australia has a lower teenage fertility rate than other industrialised English-speaking countries. However, with over 11,000 births and 12,000 abortions to teenagers each year, the resolution of teenage pregnancy is an issue faced by many young Australian women. ¶ This research seeks to explore the factors that discriminate between those who terminate and those who continue a teenage pregnancy. To achieve this aim a survey was conducted on young ever-pregnant women throughout New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The survey sought information on young women’s characteristics on three different levels: individual; institutional; and societal or cultural. ¶ The findings suggest that, at each of the three levels proposed, there are factors that discriminate between young women who choose abortion and those who choose motherhood. At the individual level, attitudes to abortion and career aspirations were found to affect pregnancy resolution. At the institutional level factors relating to education, family, relationships and religion were found to discriminate between the two groups. Finally, at the cultural level, ethnicity and area of residence were found to be associated with pregnancy resolution, in addition to modifying the effect of characteristics at other levels.
Thesis	01front.pdf 270.6 Kb 02chapters1-4.pdf 649.1 Kb 03chapter5.pdf 2461.3 Kb 04chapters6-10.pdf 964.7 Kb 05bibliography.pdf 242.4 Kb 06appendix1.pdf 321.5 Kb 07appendices2-3.pdf 1207.8 Kb