§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What research they have conducted examining the short and long-term complications, including morbidity, mortality and psychological sequelae, of a termination of pregnancy in girls under the age of 16; and [HL4969]
How many abortions have been performed on girls under the age of 16; and what is the corresponding abortion rate per 1,000 in this age group in every year since 1967; and [HL4970]
What are (a) the 30-day mortality rate; and (b) the one-year mortality rate, after abortions performed on girls under the age of 16 in every year since 1967; and [HL4971]
What are (a) the 30-day mortality rate; and (b) the one-year mortality rate, after carrying a pregnancy to term for girls under the age of 16 in every year since 1967. [HL4972]
§ Lord WarnerThe Department of Health has provided funding to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) to update its evidence-based guideline on abortion which was published in 2000. As such, the RCOG has undertaken a thorough literature review of all recently published evidence on abortion. The conclusion remains that abortion, both medical and surgical, is a very safe procedure and complications are uncommon. The updated guideline was published at the end of September 2004 and is available atwww.rcog.org.uk.
The available information on the number and rates of abortions performed on young women under the age of 16 is contained in the annual Office for National Statistics publication, Abortion Statistics, series AB; Office for National Statistics, Department of Health, Statistical Bulletin 2003/23, and Statistical Bulletin 2004/14, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
We are unable to provide 30-day and one-year mortality rates following a maternal death. However, between 1991 (the earliest data available) and 2002, six deaths were reported to the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths on young women aged under 16. None of these was after an abortion. Four were from causes unrelated to pregnancy, one from an ectopic pregnancy and one from eclampsia after a concealed pregnancy. Maternal deaths in the United Kingdom for women of all ages are at a rate of 53 per million maternities, compared with five per million abortions.