A new report, released in Belfast and Dublin this week by the Pensions and Population Research Institute (PAPRI), compares outcomes for women in Ireland, with those of women in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and clearly shows that Irish women benefit significantly from Ireland's ban on abortion in a number of ways. The study, compiled by actuary Mr Patrick Carroll M.A., F.I.A. compared statistical data on abortions carried out on women resident in Ireland and Northern Ireland from 1968-2010 with the corresponding data for mainland Britain and discussed the implications for women's health. Significantly it also links Ireland's low abortion rate to low incidences of breast cancer and comparative good mental health among women when compared with those in England Scotland and Wales. The study also showed that Northern Ireland enjoys lower levels of these problems than the rest of the UK.
Mr Carroll in his presentation said that
"Restrictive laws on abortion have enabled the birth rate in the Republic and Northern Ireland to remain much higher than the European average. Today the Irish birth rates are near to replacement level and Ireland benefits from a more youthful demographic profile with less dependence on immigration than other European countries."He added that there were benefits for both women and children, explaining that:
"it is because abortion rates are low among Irish women that Ireland shows a low incidence of maternal and infant conditions known to be abortion sequelae: still births, low weight births whether in singleton or multiple births, preterm or premature births, cerebral palsy and maternal deaths."
"Ireland also benefits from low incidence of breast cancer and comparatively good mental health among women and a low incidence of certain diseases of the immune system, to which low abortion rates have contributed. Liberalisation of abortion laws in Ireland can be expected to result in higher abortion rates and a corresponding deterioration in respect of these conditions affecting the health of women,"
The report is very timely because of the pressure being put on Ireland following the decision in the A,B and C case last December. It is hoped that this report will help to inform the "expert group" which the Irish Government is about to nominate in their consideration of the issue. Mr Carroll's research is critical in the examination of the impact of any liberalization of abortion laws and their adverse impact on women's health in particular in regard to, premature birth rates, stillbirth rates, suicide rates, mental health, breast cancer rates, and immunological disorders
Whilst it is impossible to give an accurate figure the report implies that the current population would be in the region of 100,000 lower if pro-abortion legislation had existed.
Report Summary
1. Restrictive laws on abortion have enabled the birth rate in the Republic and Northern
Ireland to remain much higher than the European average. Today the Irish birth rates are near
to replacement level and Ireland benefits from a more youthful demographic profile with less
dependence on immigration than other European countries.
2. Liberalisation of abortion laws in Ireland would result in a less youthful demographic
profile with a smaller native population as illustrated for Northern Ireland in the epoch since
1968 and for the Republic for future years.
3. Distinct traditional features of Irish demography are still apparent such as large families for
married couples in the Republic notwithstanding the late age of childbearing in Ireland and
Irish participation in the general trend to smaller families everywhere. The late age of women
at first giving birth in Ireland, in conjunction with higher Irish parity progression, explains a
high proportion of Irish abortions being nulliparous i.e. carried out on women who have had
no previous full term pregnancy.
4. Because most Irish abortions are nulliparous, and therefore especially damaging to the
health of women, it is because abortion rates are low among Irish women that Ireland shows a
low incidence of maternal and infant conditions known to be abortion sequelae: still births,
low weight births whether in singleton or multiple births, preterm or premature births,
cerebral palsy and maternal deaths. Ireland also benefits from low incidence of breast cancer
and comparatively good mental health among women and a low incidence of certain diseases
of the immune system, to which low abortion rates have contributed. Liberalisation of
abortion laws in Ireland can be expected to result in higher abortion rates and a corresponding deterioration in respect of these conditions affecting the health of women.
Whilst it is impossible to give an accurate figure the report implies that the current population would be in the region of 100,000 lower if pro-abortion legislation had existed.
Report Summary
1. Restrictive laws on abortion have enabled the birth rate in the Republic and Northern
Ireland to remain much higher than the European average. Today the Irish birth rates are near
to replacement level and Ireland benefits from a more youthful demographic profile with less
dependence on immigration than other European countries.
2. Liberalisation of abortion laws in Ireland would result in a less youthful demographic
profile with a smaller native population as illustrated for Northern Ireland in the epoch since
1968 and for the Republic for future years.
3. Distinct traditional features of Irish demography are still apparent such as large families for
married couples in the Republic notwithstanding the late age of childbearing in Ireland and
Irish participation in the general trend to smaller families everywhere. The late age of women
at first giving birth in Ireland, in conjunction with higher Irish parity progression, explains a
high proportion of Irish abortions being nulliparous i.e. carried out on women who have had
no previous full term pregnancy.
4. Because most Irish abortions are nulliparous, and therefore especially damaging to the
health of women, it is because abortion rates are low among Irish women that Ireland shows a
low incidence of maternal and infant conditions known to be abortion sequelae: still births,
low weight births whether in singleton or multiple births, preterm or premature births,
cerebral palsy and maternal deaths. Ireland also benefits from low incidence of breast cancer
and comparatively good mental health among women and a low incidence of certain diseases
of the immune system, to which low abortion rates have contributed. Liberalisation of
abortion laws in Ireland can be expected to result in higher abortion rates and a corresponding deterioration in respect of these conditions affecting the health of women.
