Abortion Overview - Concepedia

Principles

Definition

Abortion is a research concept that encompasses the multidisciplinary investigation into the termination of pregnancy, examining its medical procedures, legal frameworks, social implications, ethical considerations, and historical contexts. This concept is significant for understanding reproductive health outcomes, public policy development, human rights considerations, and the intersection of individual autonomy with societal norms and values.

Ontological type

Medical Procedures

Clinical Outcomes

Legal Frameworks

Key developments

Key Figures

Biological Etiology and Therapies era

Kristin Luker [1], a scholar whose work in this era intersected with University of California, San Diego [3], contributed to shaping debates around abortion and motherhood. Her analysis in Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood [6] highlighted how social and policy contexts influenced reproductive decision-making, underscoring the era's emphasis on integrating public narratives with clinical concerns. P. A. Jacobs [2], whose work spanned Stanford University [4] and Johns Hopkins University [5], contributed to the era by advancing cytogenetic inquiry into pregnancy loss. A cytogenetic study of 1000 spontaneous abortions [7] demonstrated chromosomal abnormalities as key drivers of miscarriage, informing diagnostic classification and risk assessment in this era.

Medical Regimens and Implementation era

Susheela Singh [1] is a prominent researcher with affiliations at Columbia University [3] and Makerere University [4] during this era. Her contributions include analyses of Intended and Unintended Pregnancies Worldwide in 2012 and Recent Trends [6], Hospital admissions resulting from unsafe abortion: estimates from 13 developing countries [7], and Timing of steps and reasons for delays in obtaining abortions in the United States [8], which clarified abortion incidence, safety concerns, and access barriers pivotal for shaping medical regimens and service delivery in this era. Gilda Sedgh [2] is associated with Harvard University [5] in this era. Her work on the Intended and Unintended Pregnancies Worldwide in 2012 and Recent Trends [6] provided critical global baseline data that informed policy, program planning, and implementation strategies across diverse health systems in this period.

Policy and Access Transformation era

Bela Ganatra [1] is a key figure in the policy and access transformation era, affiliated with University College London [3] and the University of the Philippines Diliman [4]. Her work on Unintended pregnancy and abortion by income, region, and the legal status of abortion: estimates from a comprehensive model for 1990–2019 [7], Global, regional, and subregional classification of abortions by safety, 2010–14: estimates from a Bayesian hierarchical model [8], and Abortion incidence between 1990 and 2014: global, regional, and subregional levels and trends [9] advanced standardized modeling of incidence and safety across regions, enabling policy evaluation and progress toward safer, legally regulated abortion. Özge Tunçalp [2] is a leading scholar in this era, affiliated with Johns Hopkins University [5] and the University of Groningen [6]. Her analyses using Unintended pregnancy and abortion by income, region, and the legal status of abortion: estimates from a comprehensive model for 1990–2019 [7] and Global, regional, and subregional classification of abortions by safety, 2010–14: estimates from a Bayesian hierarchical model [8] provided policy-relevant measurements that informed cross-jurisdictional monitoring and policy reform in line with telemedicine and no-test delivery paradigms [7][8].