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Table 2 Major themes and reasons women gave for seeking abortion (n=954)

From: Understanding why women seek abortions in the US

  

Freq.

Percent

Not financially prepared

386

40%

 General financial

365

38%

 Unemployed/underemployed

41

4%

 Uninsured or can't get welfare

6

0.6%

 Don't want government assistance

4

0.4%

Not the right time for a baby

347

36%

 Bad timing/not ready/unplanned

321

34%

 Too busy/not enough time

17

2%

 Too old

16

2%

Partner related reasons

298

31%

 Relationship is bad, poor and/or new

89

9%

 Respondent wants to be married first/not a single mom

80

8%

 Partner is not supportive

77

8%

 Partner is wrong guy

61

6%

 Partner does not want baby

29

3%

 Partner is abusive

24

3%

Need to focus on other children

275

29%

 Too soon after having had a child/busy enough with current children/have enough children right now

239

25%

 Concern for other children she is rearing

51

5%

Interferes with future opportunities

194

20%

 Interferes with educational plans

132

14%

 Interferes with vocational plans

63

7%

 Want better life for self/don't want to limit future opportunities

49

5%

Not emotionally or mentally prepared

180

19%

Health related reasons

114

12%

 Concern for her own health

59

6%

 Concern for the health of the fetus

51

5%

 Drug, tobacco, or alcohol use

46

5%

 Prescription drug (not illicit) or contraceptive use

14

1.5%

Want a better life for the baby than she could provide

119

12%

 Want better life for baby

67

7%

 Living or housing context not suitable for baby

46

5%

 Lack of childcare or help from family to care for baby

13

1.4%

 Don't want her children to have a childhood like hers

5

0.5%

Not independent or mature enough for a baby

64

7%

 Too young or immature

47

5%

 Can't take care of self

12

1.3%

 Too dependent on parents or others right now

9

0.9%

Influences from family or friends

48

5%

 Would have a negative impact on family or friends

22

2%

 Don't want others to know/worried others would judge

19

2%

 Pressure from family or friends

11

1.2%

Don't want a baby or place baby for adoption

38

4%

 Don't want a baby or don't want any children

33

3%

 Don't want adoption

7

0.7%

Other

11

1.2%

Total

954

100%

  1. Note: Respondents gave reasons under multiple themes and subthemes.