Title: University students' decisions related to abortion issues.

POPLINE Document Number: 102051

Author(s):

Larsen MD
Brown KR

Source citation:

[Unpublished] 1994. Presented at the 122nd Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association [APHA], Washington, D.C.,October 30 - November 3, 1994. [6] p.

Abstract:

A pilot study was undertaken to determine the "yes" or "no" responses of 167 university students to whether abortion should be allowed in 15 hypothetical situations. 90% believed that abortion should be legal. 89% would allow abortion in cases of rape, 94% in cases where pregnancy was harmful to a woman's health, and 74% in cases where pregnancy was harmful to mental health. 74% believed that fathers should bear half the financial burden, but 50% believed that the father's signature should not be required. The respondents were just about evenly divided with respect to economic hardship, if the pregnancy was unwanted, if the mother was unmarried, if the mother was over 40 years old, and whether or not the government should fund abortions for low-income women. If no contraception was used, only 38% would approve of abortion versus 53% if contraception failed. If the mother was an adolescent, 55% said abortion was acceptable, and 44% said it was not, but 63% felt that parental consent should be required for women under 18 years old.

Keywords:

United States
Pilot Projects
Abortion
Universities
Students
Attitude
North America
Americas
Developed Countries
Studies
Research Methodology
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning
Schools
Education
Psychological Factors
Behavior