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