Reasons for Abortion

Abortion proponents argue that women need abortion for reasons such as rape, health of the mother or health problems the baby might have. However, did you know that those reasons only make up seven percent of all abortions? The reality is most women have abortions for social reasons. Of course, that does not mean a woman doesn’t have legitimate concerns for the future of her baby, or that she doesn’t have people in her life pressuring her to have an abortion, but it does mean that most women have abortions for social-economic problems they are facing.

Social Reasons 93%

• Feels Unready for Child/Responsibility 25%
• Feels she can’t afford child 23%
• Has all the children she wants/Other family responsibilities 19%
• Relationship Problem/Single motherhood 8%
• Feels she is not mature enough 7%
• Interference with Education/Career Plans 4%
• Parent/Partner wants Abortion < 1%
• Other < 6.5%

“Hard” Reasons 7%

• Mother’s Health 4%
• Child may have health problems 3%
• Rape or Incest < 0.5%

*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.