Title: Changing attitudes toward abortion.

POPLINE Document Number: 797416

Author(s):

Potts M

Source citation:

WESTERN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, 1979;31(5):455-9.

Abstract:

Medical attitudes towards induced abortion have varied widely in the recent century as have public attitudes. Induced abortion was accepted as a matter of course, but not much discussed, in both North America and Western Europe at the early part of the 19th century. The manner in which the antiabortion movement succeeded in getting abortion prohibited in every state in the United States by 1900 is discussed. The movement was fueled by restrictive trade practices within the medical establishment and daily sensational newspaper stories of abortion abuses; church leaders were not very involved. Abortion was declared illegal exactly when the need for it was greatest; the move toward smaller families was growing. The recent British and American move toward abortion law liberalization is summarized. Initial attitutes in the U.S. were more conservative than in Britain, but they have changed more rapidly. Doctors did not participate in the repeal movement in England. They did, however, resist efforts to undo the liberalization a decade later. Physicians played a larger part in the repeal efforts in the U.S. at the state level before the Supreme Court judgment in 1973. General public opinion in the U.S. seems to be moderate on the issue of abortion with strong pro- and antiabortion voices remaining rare. The movement for a return to restrictive legislation on abortion is an affluent movement. There is no similar effort in the developing countries.

Keywords:

United States
Abortion
Attitude
Physicians
United Kingdom
Birth Rate
North America
Americas
Developed Countries
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning
Psychological Factors
Behavior
Health Personnel
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Europe, Western
Europe
Fertility Measurements
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population