Follow-up study of children born to women denied abortion.

Two hundred and twenty children born in Prague in 1961-63, whose mothers had applied twice for abortion and were refused twice, were matched with children born from accepted pregnancies. The findings when the children were about nine years of age revealed some important differences unfavourable to 'unwanted children'. Boys were significantly more afflicted than girls. Both groups were examined after a further six years. Differences in school achievement, in ratings of the child's personality and in parental attitudes were more pronounced than before. The third follow-up project is under way now, with the initially unwanted children and the control group in their early 20s. Detailed examinations are being made in families that already have children, i.e. children of 'unwanted children'.