2026-03-07T21:40:32Z https://grips.repo.nii.ac.jp/oai

oai:grips.repo.nii.ac.jp:02000202 2025-11-14T01:49:31Z 1:1744338790776

Abortion Legalization, Teen Sexual and Reproductive Health Behaviors, and Women’s Empowerment in South Africa NJOKWE,Getrude KIJIMA,Yoko abortion legalization fertility schooling adolescent difference-in-difference South Africa https://www.grips.ac.jp/list/jp/facultyinfo/kijima-yoko/ Restrictive abortion laws in many African nations are associated with risks such as unsafe procedures and teenage motherhood. This study examines how abortion legalization influences sexual and reproductive health and women’s empowerment in South Africa, using a difference-in-differences design. Analyzing variations in birth cohorts and access to health care facilities with abortion services across provinces, the study finds no direct causal impact of the abortion policy on teenage motherhood, fertility rates, early sexual debut, high school completion, or college attendance, though negative associations with teenage motherhood and fertility rates and positive associations with early sexual debut, high school completion, and college attendance, were observed. The study suggests that limited access to health care facilities with abortion services and cultural taboos contribute to underreporting of behaviors. Given these findings, we recommend prioritizing access to contraception and creating supportive environments for adolescent girls living in vulnerable situations, including improved access to health care facilities that offer abortion services. GRIPS Policy Research Center 2025-08-01 eng technical report https://doi.org/10.24545/0002000202 https://grips.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/2000202 10.24545/0002000202 GRIPS Discussion Papers 25-9 https://grips.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/2000202/files/DP25-9.pdf application/pdf 735.4 KB