Why Women Have Abortions

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.