Abstract
Introduction: Abortion in adolescence is a complex phenomenon that transcends the clinical sphere, becoming a critical point of convergence between biology, ethics, and social structure. It reflects fundamental societal values concerning the beginning of life, human dignity, and women's autonomy.
Objective: To synthesize abortion in adolescence as a contemporary biopsychosocial challenge, integrating the medical, psychological, social and ethical dimensions that characterize it.
Method: A narrative literature review was conducted, including original articles, case reports, and systematic reviews published in peer-reviewed, open-access academic journals between January 2019 and March 2024. Searches were performed in the SciELO, PubMed (via Regmed), Dialnet, and Mayo Clinic databases.
Results: The synthesized evidence reveals that high abortion rates among adolescents are a symptom of systemic failures. These include limited access to comprehensive sexuality education and effective contraception, socioeconomic vulnerability, gender inequality, and pervasive social stigma. While legalization and provision of safe services (as exemplified by Cuba) are essential for eliminating maternal mortality, they do not, in themselves, address the root causes of unintended pregnancies.
Conclusions: Addressing adolescent abortion effectively demands a shift beyond a purely biomedical approach. It requires the implementation of comprehensive public health strategies. These must guarantee safe abortion access as a fundamental right while simultaneously transforming structural environments, promoting reproductive autonomy, strengthening psychosocial support systems for adolescents, and tackling the underlying factors that perpetuate unplanned pregnancies.
References
1. Mann L, Bateson D, Black KI. Teenage pregnancy. Aust J Gen Pract. 2020 Jun;49(6):310-6. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32464731/
2. Marino JL, Lewis LN, Bateson D, Hickey M, Skinner SR. Teenage mothers. Aust Fam Physician. 2016 Oct;45(10):712-7. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27695719/
3. Abdul Rahim K, Egglestone NJ, Tsagareli IG, Usmani W, Meherali S, Lassi ZS. Mental health outcomes beyond the post-partum period among adolescent mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychol Behav Med. 2024;12(1):2305741. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38313449/
4. Todd N, Black A. Contraception for Adolescents. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2020 Mar;12(Suppl 1):28-40. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32041390/
5. Liang M, Simelane S, Fortuny Fillo G, Chalasani S, Weny K, Salazar Canelos P, et al. The State of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. J Adolesc Health. 2019 Dec;65(6S):S3-S15. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31761002/
6. Bearak J, Popinchalk A, Ganatra B, Moller AB, Tunçalp Ö, Beavin C, et al. Unintended pregnancy and abortion by income, region, and the legal status of abortion: estimates from a comprehensive model for 1990-2019. Lancet Glob Health. 2020 Sep;8(9):e1152-e1161. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32710833/
7. Cabella W, Velázquez C. Abortion Legalization in Uruguay: Effects on Adolescent Fertility. Stud Fam Plann. 2022 Sep;53(3):491-514. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35767463/
8. Blystad A, Haukanes H, Tadele G, Moland KM. Reproductive health and the politics of abortion. Int J Equity Health. 2020 Mar 23;19(1):39. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32183850/
9. Myers C, Jones R, Upadhyay U. Predicted changes in abortion access and incidence in a post-Roe world. Contraception. 2019 Nov;100(5):367-373. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31376381/
10. Ganti AK, Hillard PJA. Family planning in adolescents. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Dec;31(6):447-451. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31652151/
11. Norris AH, Chakraborty P, Lang K, Brown T, Hines M, Gullet H, et al. Abortion Access in Ohio's Changing Legislative Context, 2010-2018. Am J Public Health. 2020 Aug;110(8):1228-1234. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32437269/
12. Cohen DS, Donley G, Rebouché R. Abortion Shield Laws. NEJM Evid. 2023 Apr;2(4):EVIDra2200280. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38320012/
13. Bridwell RE, Long B, Montrief T, Gottlieb M. Post-abortion Complications: A Narrative Review for Emergency Clinicians. West J Emerg Med. 2022 Oct 10;23(6):919-925. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36409940/
14. Calhoun B. Medication Abortion and Preterm Birth. Issues Law Med. 2023 Summer;38(2):175-181. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38165261/
15. Fleurant E, McCloskey L. Medication Abortion: A Comprehensive Review. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Dec 1;66(4):706-724. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37910067/
16. Cohen RH, Teal SB. Medication Abortion. JAMA. 2022 Nov 1;328(17):1779. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35984667/
17. Swantic V, Hawley D, Zipp C, Lee N, Praditpan P. Second-trimester Abortion. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Dec 1;66(4):685-697. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37910075/
18. Liu SM, Shaw KA. Pain management in outpatient surgical abortion. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Dec 1;33(6):440-444. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34747880/
19. McLaren H, Hennessey C. First-trimester Procedural Abortion. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Dec 1;66(4):676-684. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37750678/
20. Sepper E. Anti-Abortion Exceptionalism after Dobbs. J Law Med Ethics. 2023;51(3):612-617. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38088619/
21. Räsänen J. Regulating abortion after ectogestation. J Med Ethics. 2023 Jul;49(7):419-422. [citado 29 Mar 2024]. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35725301/
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Richard Marcial Gálvez Vila, Yonathan Estrada Rodríguez, Shania Naranjo Lima, Luis Emilio Morales Serrano, Claudia de la Caridad Ramos Paret (Author)