Abortion on Guam: Demograpic Trends and Fertility Data

Workman, Ann M.; Workmann, Randall L.; Cruz-Ortiz, Linda (1992). "Abortion on Guam: Demograpic Trends and Fertility Data". ISLA: A Journal of Micronesian Studies. 1 (2): 183–198. ISSN 1054-9390.

• Has attachment: File:FY6NRMNI.pdf

Abstract: This paper examines the occurrence of abortion by analyzing Guam’s demographic data and statistics on legally induced abortion between 1981 and 1988. The data illustrate a relatively low level, fluctuating pattern with no increase or decrease over the decade. The findings may be due to reporting policies, underreporting, and low rates of abortion among this predominantly Roman Catholic population. The social science literature on abortion and its historical practice on Guam is reviewed. Anthropological studies point to some historical use of abortion on Guam for regulating pregnancies. It is likely, however, that abortion rates have been and remain relatively low because children are valued highly, Catholic doctrine opposes abortion, and unwanted births beyond a desired family size can be avoided by the use of birth control. Policy implications for developing accurate data resources for addressing womens’ health issues are discussed in light of the abortion controversy.