Economics more influential than morals to teenagers’ abortion decisions

July 19, 2004 in Community Care

There are huge regional differences in abortion rates among
teenagers, a new study has shown, with the most deprived areas
having the highest teenage conception rates and lowest abortion
rates.

Between local authorities the proportion of teenage pregnancies
being terminated varies between 76 per cent in one area and 18 per
cent in another, says the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report.

Young women’s decisions about abortion depend more on
their economic and social circumstances than their moral views.
Those who saw their lives as insecure were more likely to view
motherhood positively than those who expected their futures to
develop through education and employment.

The extent of local family planning and abortion provision, and
the proportion of women GPs locally also had an impact on teenage
abortion rates, regardless of deprivation levels.

http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/findings/socialpolicy/684.asp