re: #684 Charles

Why Do Women Have Abortions?

Social Reasons (given as primary reason)
Feels unready for child/responsibility 25%
Feels she can’t afford baby 23%
Has all the children she wants/Other family responsibilities 19%
Relationship problem/Single motherhood 8%
Feels she isn’t mature enough 7%
Interference with education/career plans 4%
Parents/Partner wants abortion <1%
Other reasons <6.5%
TOTAL: 93%

“Hard Cases” (given as primary reason)
- Mother’s Health 4%
- Baby may have health problem 3%
- Rape or Incest <0.5%

TOTAL: 7%

Source: Lawrence Finer, et. al, “Reasons U.S. Women Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives” Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Vol. 37 No. 3 (Sept., 2005) p. 110.

“Health of the mother” does not seems to be a leading criteria.