Essay

Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 3

Annotated Bibliography

Charma Smalls

Composition II/ENG 1200 SO2

July 29, 2014

Julie King

South University Online

Annotated Bibliography

Abortion Law in the United States

1).AUL.ORG (2005). Summary of Known Health-Risks of Abortion: How Abortion Harms

Women and Why Concerns for Women’s Health must be part of Abortion-Related

Policies and Media Debate. Americans United for Life, 28, 9, 202-211.

http://www.aul.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Summary-of-Known-Health-Risks-of-Abortion.pdf

The author tries to show inherent risks associated with abortion even if it is carried out in a clinic. The author bases his argument on the grisly trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, whose conviction as a murderer brought national attention to the America’s abortion laws. According to the author, abortion has undeniable immediate health risks such as blood clots, infections, incomplete abortions, and injuries including other health risks. In addition, the health risks associated with chemical abortions are numerous but are underreported. The author also argues that the relative risk of abortion increases exponentially with gestation period.

The article will be imperative in the study of the risks associated with abortion. This would help in evaluating policies that legalizes and those that illegalizes abortion. The article is from a peer reviewed journal and therefore its credibility is unquestionable. The author also uses data from other credible sources to expound his arguments. This source relates to other sources in the sense that knowing the risks associated with abortion would help in making policies and decision on to whether abortion should be legalized or illegalized.

2).Benson, J. (January 01, 2007). Evaluating abortion-care programs: Old challenges, new

directions. Sage Family Studies Abstracts, 29, 1, 189.

http://www.ipas.org/~/media/Files/Ipas%20Publications/BensonFamPlan.ashx

The article tries to evaluate abortion-care programs and policies by providing a conceptual framework for evaluating the outcomes of a safe abortion program. This is done by evaluating laws and policies related to abortion, women care including quality, access and use of services. In addition, the article gives a comprehensive recommendation which includes resources availability, improvement in infrastructure, and political commitment in supporting policies that advocate for safe abortion programs.

The article shows how safe abortion could prevent deaths and other complications that could be brought by unsafe abortion. The author uses data from credible sources such as WHO, and therefore the information given in the article is credible. The article will be imperative in my study since it explains the importance of performing safe abortions. This would help in weighing out the two alternatives as to where abortion should be legalized or not. This source relates to other sources in the sense that knowing the importance of safe abortion would help in evaluating policies regarding abortions.

3).Kumar, A., Hessini, L., & Mitchell, E. M. (January 01, 2009). Conceptualising abortion

stigma. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 11, 6, 625-39.

http://www.ipas.org/~/media/Files/Ipas%20Publications/KumarCHS2009.ashx

According to the authors, stigma surrounding abortion has been playing a vital role in the medical, legal and social marginalization of abortion care in the United States. The authors argue that although abortion is prevalent in the U.S., those who have abortions reports notable social stigma. The article studies abortion stigma, and how it takes root in a particular society, its impact and how it can be countered.

The article offers important information regarding to the acceptance of abortion in our communities. Abortion might be legal but social stigma might prevent an individual from having abortion. The authors’ information is credible due to the fact that it has been sponsored by Amsterdam Medical centre. This source is related to other sources since social stigma affects the decision on to whether to have an abortion or not.

4).Major, B., Appelbaum, M., Beckman, L., Dutton, M. A., Russo, N. F., & West, C. (January

01, 2009). Abortion and mental health: Evaluating the evidence. The American Psychologist, 64, 9, 863-90. http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/amp-64-9-863.pdf

The authors evaluate the relationship between induced abortion and mental health in women. A comparison between the risks associated with abortion and the risks of its alternative is done. In addition, the authors try to uncover the sources of response variability in women due to abortion. The article concludes that in the U.S., the relative risk mental health problems in women who have legal abortion due to unwanted pregnancy is not greater than the risk of delivering unwanted pregnancy. According to the authors, metal health problems are not entirely caused by abortions per se, but might be due to preexisting factors.

The authors did a thorough and broad research to come to the conclusion and thus its credibility is unquestionable. In addition, the study was done in scholars from various universities. The article is very important to my study since many people believe that having an abortion could affect the woman’s mental health. This source is related to other sources since mental health is important for those who have abortion and thus might influence abortion policies.

5).Reagan, L. J. (1997). When abortion was a crime: Women, medicine, and law in the United

States, 1867-1973. Berkeley: University of California Press.

The author gives a historical background of legalization of abortion in the United States. The book analyzes the interaction among state authorizes, medical profession, women, policing and the politics that surrounded abortion when it was illegal. There has been stunning transformation in public policies regarding abortion. In addition the author shows how the private sphere has reshaped the public policy.

The author uses literature to interrogate and re-conceptualize the relationship between the two eras when abortion was a crime and the new era where abortion is legal. The book will be vital in my study since it gives historical information of abortion in the United States which is important in evaluating whether abortion should be made legal or illegal. This source relates to other sources in the sense that historical background of abortion is imperative in evaluating abortion policies and their effectiveness.

6).Wetstein, M. E. (1996). Abortion rates in the United States: The influence of opinion and

policy. Albany: State University of New York Press.

The author gives data on the abortion rates in the United States. In addition, the author tries to evaluate the importance of policy evaluation with more emphasis on policy changes in abortion and the impacts of these changes in the United States.

The author uses a broad array of statistical techniques in examining public policies. The author explains the importance of such techniques in the study and also accounts for the results and therefore the information is credible. In addition, the information in the book largely quantitative and thus its credibility is indisputable. The book will be important in the study of abortion laws in the United States since it examines policies changes and their impact to the abortion rates in the United States. This source is related to other sources since it gives information regarding to the rates of abortion in the United State which can be compared to the passing of abortion policies.