Societal attitudes towards abortion

Last updated

Societal attitudes towards abortion have varied throughout different historical periods and cultures. One manner of assessing such attitudes in the modern era has been to conduct opinion polls to measure levels of public opinion on abortion.

Contents

Attitudes by region

Africa

Europe

October 2020 Polish protests were caused by severe changes to abortion laws. 02020 0689 (2) Protest against abortion restriction in Krakow, October 2020.jpg
October 2020 Polish protests were caused by severe changes to abortion laws.

2005 poll of ten countries

A May 2005 Euro RSCG/TNS Sofres poll examined attitudes toward abortion in 10 European countries, asking polltakers whether they agreed with the statement, "If a woman doesn't want children, she should be able to have an abortion". [12] Results were as follows:

Country"Very much""A little""Not really""Not at all"
Czech Republic 66%15%8%10%
Finland 54%20%9%13%
France 55%23%8%13%
Germany 40%24%10%24%
Italy 29%24%16%25%
Netherlands 37%22%11%26%
Poland 23%24%19%29%
Portugal 32%20%12%30%
Spain 41%18%8%27%
United Kingdom 43%23%10%19%

Eastern Europe/Eurasia study

An April 2003 CDC/ORC Macro report examined sentiment on abortion among women aged 15 to 44 in six former-Comecon countries, asking, "Do you think that (in any situation) a woman always has (or should have) the right to decide about her (own) pregnancy, including whether to have an abortion?" [13] The results were:

Country Azerbaijan
(2001)
Czech Republic
(1993)
Georgia
(1999)
Moldova
(1997)
Romania
(1999)
Russia
(1996)
Yes80%85%79%81%78%72%
No20%15%21%19%22%28%

Among those whose response was "no" above, it was then asked if abortion would be acceptable under selected circumstances. Positive responses to this subsequent question were:

Country Azerbaijan
(2001)
Czech Republic
(1993)
Georgia
(1999)
Moldova
(1997)
Romania
(1999)
Russia
(1996)
If the pregnancy endangers woman's life83%91%80%71%69%N/A
If the child might be born deformed80%74%80%88%70%N/A
If pregnancy endangers woman's health70%72%70%38%52%N/A
If pregnancy resulted from rape67%71%40%43%42%N/A
If family cannot afford to support the child65%16%23%32%29%N/A
If the woman is not married66%8%22%16%23%N/A

North and Central America

Gallup opinion poll results in USA since 1975 USA Gallup abortion opinion poll stacked area.svg
Gallup opinion poll results in USA since 1975
2003 Poll2000 Poll1996 Poll
LegalIllegalLegalIllegalLegalIllegal
First trimester66%29%66%31%64%30%
Second trimester25%68%24%69%26%65%
Third trimester10%84%8%86%13%82%

Oceania

South America

Attitudes by religion

Overall, religion is a clear determinant of certain group's opinion on abortion. While different religions elicit different levels of support for abortion, there are clear correlations between one's faith, and support/opposition for abortion policy. Thus, within the societal umbrella of abortion opinion, each religion provides a specific contribution to the society's overall position.

Information from Pew Research Center (2015). [32]
Religious TraditionLegal in All/Most CasesIllegal in All/Most Cases
Jehovah's Witness 18%75%
Mormon 27%70%
Evangelical Protestant 33%63%
Catholic 48%47%
Orthodox Christian 53%45%
Historically Black Protestant 52%42%
Muslim 55%37%
Mainline Protestant 60%35%
Hindu 68%29%
Unaffiliated73%23%
Buddhist 82%17%
Jewish 83%15%
...

Christianity

An October 2006 Pew Research Center survey of moral opinion among Christians in 10 countries asked "... [Do] you think abortion can always be justified, sometimes be justified, or never be justified?" [33] [ unreliable source? ][ verification needed ][ dubious discuss ]

Country"Always justified""Sometimes justified""Never justified"
Brazil4%16%79%
Chile4%23%71%
Guatemala 3%10%85%
India (localities)9%19%68%
Kenya n/a11%88%
Nigeria 1%4%94%
Philippines 0%3%97%
South Africa 8%16%73%
South Korea 0%45%54%
United States5%46%45%

The poll also asked respondents whether they agreed with the statement, "The government should not interfere with a woman's ability to have an abortion".

Country"Completely agree""Mostly agree""Mostly disagree""Completely disagree"
Brazil35%13%15%34%
Chile22%24%23%25%
Guatemala 31%27%11%28%
India (localities)24%22%18%33%
Kenya 14%4%12%69%
Nigeria 20%10%18%46%
Philippines 12%13%18%56%
South Africa 21%25%19%28%
South Korea 6%56%31%3%
United States40%24%12%20%

Buddhism

According to a 2014 poll by the Pew Research Center surveying 264 people, 82% of American Buddhists supported abortion in all or most cases, while 17% opposed legal abortion in all or most cases. [34]

Hinduism

According to Hindu bioethics, abortion is only permitted when the mother's life is in danger. Many hindus believe in anti-abortion teaching, emphasizing Ahimsa and its intrinsic reverence for life. According to a 2020 poll, 53% of Hindus say that abortion is either “somewhat unacceptable” or “completely unacceptable.” [35]

Islam

According to a 2014 poll by The Pew Research Center surveying 237 people, 55% of American Muslims supported legal abortion in all or most cases, while 37% are opposed to legal abortion in all or most cases. [36]

Atheism

According to a 2014 poll by The Pew Research Center surveying 1,098 people, 87% of American atheists supported abortion's legality in all or most cases, and 11% opposed abortion's legality in all or most cases. [37]

Among physicians and OBGYNs

At the societal level, especially in lesser developed countries, it seems to be a challenge to determine what is the exact numerical stance of obstetricians's on abortion. But, a recent survey with a small sample of OBGYN trainees from 47 countries and spanning 4 continents, yielded some more results about the attitude of OBGYNs toward abortion. 77.5% percent of the OBGYNs in the study supported the legalization of abortion in their country. Another 13.9% support the legalization with restrictions, with only 5.9% saying no and 2.7% answering "not sure." [38]

Some countries such as the United States have provided some idea of the level of support among physicians. A survey in the United States of more than 10,000 physicians (not only obstetricians) came to the result that 34% of physicians would perform an abortion in certain situations, even if it were against their own beliefs. Approximately 54% would not, and for the remaining 12%, it would depend on circumstances. [39]

Additionally, one survey collected specific, more recent data on OBGYNs in the United States and their overall feelings about certain abortion policies, as well as the exact percentage of OBGYNs that are willing/able to perform abortions. For example, a recent study conducted after the Dobbs' decision found that "Nearly one in five (18%) office-based OBGYNs nationally say that they are providing abortion services", the same study also found that "Eight in ten OBGYNs approve of a recent policy change from the FDA that allows certified pharmacies to dispense medication abortion pills." [40] This data, along with other material from this same article, seemed to suggest that the rate at which OBGYN's broadly support some form of abortion at a societal level conflicts with certain legal barriers preventing them from providing this service.

See also

Related Research Articles

Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), was a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States generally protected a right to have an abortion. The decision struck down many abortion laws, and caused an ongoing abortion debate in the United States about whether, or to what extent, abortion should be legal, who should decide the legality of abortion, and what the role of moral and religious views in the political sphere should be. The decision also shaped debate concerning which methods the Supreme Court should use in constitutional adjudication. The Supreme Court repealed the Roe decision in June 2022, ending the constitutional right to abortion.

Abortion in Ireland is regulated by the Health Act 2018. Abortion is permitted in Ireland during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, and later in cases where the pregnant woman's life or health is at risk, or in the cases of a fatal foetal abnormality. Abortion services commenced on 1 January 2019, following its legalisation by the aforementioned Act, which became law on 20 December 2018. Previously, the 8th Constitutional Amendment had given the life of the unborn foetus the same value as that of its mother, but the 36th constitutional amendment, approved by referendum in May 2018, replaced this with a clause permitting the Oireachtas (parliament) to legislate for the termination of pregnancies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abortion in the United States</span>

Abortion is a divisive issue in the United States. The issue of abortion is prevalent in American politics and culture wars, though a majority of Americans support continued access to abortion. There are widely different abortion laws depending on state.

The abortion debate is a longstanding, ongoing controversy that touches on the moral, legal, medical, and religious aspects of induced abortion. In English-speaking countries, the debate most visibly polarizes around adherents of the self-described "pro-choice" and "pro-life" movements. Pro-choice supporters uphold that individuals have the right to make their own decisions about their reproductive health, and that they should have the option to end a pregnancy if they choose to do so, taking into account various factors such as the stage of fetal development, the health of the woman, and the circumstances of the conception. Pro-life advocates, on the other hand, maintain that a fetus is a human being with inherent rights that cannot be overridden by the woman's choice or circumstances, and that abortion is morally wrong in most or all cases. Both terms are considered loaded words in mainstream media, where terms such as "abortion rights" or "anti-abortion" are generally preferred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abortion in Canada</span>

Abortion in Canada is legal throughout pregnancy and is publicly funded as a medical procedure under the combined effects of the federal Canada Health Act and provincial health-care systems. However, access to services and resources varies by region. While some restrictions exist, Canada is one of the few nations with no criminal restrictions on abortion. Abortion is subject to provincial healthcare regulatory rules and guidelines for physicians. No provinces offer abortion on request at 24 weeks and beyond, although there are exceptions for certain medical complications.

Chile's abortion laws have undergone significant changes in recent years. Prior to 2017, Chile had one of the strictest abortion laws globally, prohibiting the practice altogether. However, since then, abortion has become legal in certain circumstances.

Abortion in Brazil is a crime, with penalties of one to three years of imprisonment for the recipient of the abortion, and one to four years of imprisonment for the doctor or any other person who performs the abortion on someone else. In three specific situations in Brazil, induced abortion is not punishable by law: in cases of risk to the pregnant person's life; when the pregnancy is the result of rape; and if the fetus is anencephalic. In these cases, the Brazilian government provides the abortion procedure free of charge through the Sistema Único de Saúde. This does not mean that the law regards abortion in these cases as a right, but only that women who receive abortions under these circumstances, and the doctors, will not be punished. The punishment for a woman who performs an abortion on herself or consents to an abortion performed by another outside these legal exceptions is one to three years of detention. The base penalty for a third party that performs an illegal abortion with the consent of the patient, ranges from one to four years of detention, with the possibility of increase by a third if the woman comes to any physical harm, and can be doubled if she dies. Criminal penalties fixed at four years or less can be converted to non-incarceration punishments, such as community service and compulsory donation to charity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States anti-abortion movement</span> Movement in the United States opposing abortion

The United Statesanti-abortion movement is a movement in the United States that opposes induced abortion and advocates for the protection of fetal life. Advocates support legal prohibition or restriction on ethical, moral, or religious grounds, arguing that human life begins at conception and that the human zygote, embryo or fetus is a person and therefore has a right to life. The anti-abortion movement includes a variety of organizations, with no single centralized decision-making body. There are diverse arguments and rationales for the anti-abortion stance. Some allow for some permissible abortions, including therapeutic abortions, in exceptional circumstances such as incest, rape, severe fetal defects, or when the woman's health is at risk.

Abortion in the Czech Republic is legally allowed up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, with medical indications up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, in case of grave problems with the fetus at any time. Those performed for medical indications are covered by public health insurance, but otherwise, abortion is relatively affordable in the Czech Republic. In Czech, induced abortion is referred to as interrupce or umělé přerušení těhotenství, often colloquially potrat ("miscarriage").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abortion in Argentina</span>

Abortion in Argentina is legal as an elective medical procedure during the first 14 weeks from conception. The abortion law was liberalized when the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Bill was passed by the National Congress in December 2020. According to the law, any woman can request the procedure at any public or private health facility. Doctors are legally bound to either perform it or, if they are conscientious objectors, refer the patient to another physician or health facility. Only three other Latin or South American countries legalised abortion on request nationwide before Argentina did: Cuba in 1965, Guyana in 1995, and Uruguay in 2012. According to polling in 2021, around 44% of Argentines support the legalization of abortion on request; other polls showed 50–60% of Argentines opposed the bill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States</span>

Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States has significantly changed since the 1990s, and an overwhelming majority of Americans now favor same-sex marriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Portuguese abortion referendum</span>

An abortion referendum took place in Portugal on 11 February 2007, to decide whether to legalise abortion up to ten weeks. The referendum was the fulfillment of an election pledge by the governing Socialist Party of Prime Minister José Sócrates.

Abortion in Israel is permitted when determined by a termination committee, with the vast majority of cases being approved, as of 2019. The rate of abortion in Israel has steadily declined since 1988, and compared to the rest of the world, abortion rates in Israel are moderate. According to government data, in Israel, abortion rates in 2016 dropped steadily to 9 per 1,000 women of childbearing age, lower than England (16.2) and the United States (13.2). 99% of abortions are carried out in the first trimester. Despite allegations of permitting abortion under limited circumstances, Haaretz noted in 2019 that this is not the case, and abortion is almost always permitted in Israel.

Since 2021, abortion has no longer been a federal crime in Mexico. However, the criminal law in Mexico varies by state. On 7 September 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court unanimously ruled that penalising abortion is unconstitutional, setting a precedent across the whole country. Before 2019, abortion had been severely restricted outside of Mexico City, where it was legalized on-request in 2007. As of August 2023, abortion is available on request to any woman during the first twelve weeks of a pregnancy in Mexico City and the states of Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Coahuila, Colima, Baja California, Sinaloa, Guerrero, Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo, Jalisco, and Aguascalientes. However, even in states where abortion is legal, there continue to be women in pre-trial detention for murder due to spontaneous miscarriage.

The Republican Majority for Choice (RMC) was a Republican organization in the United States dedicated to preserving legal access to abortion. The group also supported federal funding for all kinds of stem cell research, including embryonic stem cell research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity and abortion</span> Christian denominational views on the issue of abortion

Christianity and abortion have a long and complex history. Condemnation of abortion by Christians goes back to the 1st century with texts such as the Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Apocalypse of Peter. In later years some Christian writers argued that abortion was acceptable under certain circumstances, such as when necessary to save the life of the mother, but these views did not become accepted teachings until some denominations changed their views in the 20th century. The Bible itself does not contain direct references to abortion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International opinion polling for the 2008 United States presidential election</span>

This article lists international opinion polls taken in various countries around the world during 2008 relating to the 2008 United States presidential election. Most polls measured foreign preference for Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican candidate John McCain. For international reaction to the election, see International reaction to the United States presidential election, 2008.

The official teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1992 oppose all forms of abortion procedures whose direct purpose is to destroy a zygote, blastocyst, embryo or fetus, since it holds that "human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life". However, the Church does recognize as morally legitimate certain acts which indirectly result in the death of the fetus, as when the direct purpose is removal of a cancerous womb. Canon 1397 §2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law imposes automatic excommunication on Latin Catholics who actually procure an abortion, if they fulfill the conditions for being subject to such a sanction. Eastern Catholics are not subject to automatic excommunication, but by canon 1450 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches they are to be excommunicated by decree if found guilty of the same action, and they may be absolved of the sin only by the eparchial bishop. In addition to teaching that abortion is immoral, the Catholic Church also generally makes public statements and takes actions in opposition to its legality.

The Catholic Church and abortion in the United States deals with the views and activities of the Catholic Church in the United States in relation to the abortion debate. The Catholic Church opposes abortion and has campaigned against abortion in the United States, both saying that it is immoral and making statements and taking actions in opposition to its classification as legal.

Abortionin Croatia has been a regulated medical operation since 1952, subject to various restrictions. According to present law, abortion can be performed as an elective procedure until 10 weeks following conception, and in specific circumstances afterwards.

References

  1. Rule, Stephen. (2004). Rights or wrongs? Public attitudes towards moral values Archived 2006-10-30 at the Wayback Machine . HSRC Review, 2 (3). Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  2. "Abortion Sometimes a Moral Issue, Say Austrians." (June 3, 2007). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
  3. "Most in Czech Republic Support Abortion Rights [ permanent dead link ]." (June 10, 2007). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
  4. "Survey: 60% in favour of legal abortion". 21 January 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2011-12-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Red C Opinion Poll, January 10th 2013" (PDF). Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  7. McCarthy, Justin (26 May 2018). "Landslide victory for Yes side in referendum". RTÉ . Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  8. "Half of Britons Say NHS Should Only Fund Abortions in Emergency Cases." (January 13, 2010). Angus Reid Public Opinion. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  9. "Sondaż: Rośnie poparcie dla aborcji na żądanie do 12. tygodnia ciąży". Newsweek . 17 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28.
  10. "Sondaż: orzeczenie Trybunału Konstytucyjnego w sprawie aborcji popiera 13 procent pytanych". TVN24 (in Polish). 28 October 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  11. "Nederlanders vinden keuzevrijheid voor abortus belangrijk". 28 September 2023.
  12. EURO RSCG; TNS Sofres. (May 2005). "European Values" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2007-06-17. (associated article Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine )
  13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; ORC Macro. (April 2003). "Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health in Eastern Europe and Eurasia: A Comparative Report". p. 89. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  14. "Mexicans Support Status Quo on Social Issues Archived 2006-12-19 at the Wayback Machine ." (December 1, 2005). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved January 10, 2006.
  15. "Nicaraguans Favour Abortion in Some Cases Archived 2007-01-28 at the Wayback Machine ." (December 4, 2006). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved January 10, 2006.
  16. "Panamanians Reject Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage Archived 2008-09-06 at the Wayback Machine ." (May 23, 2005). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved January 10, 2006.
  17. "Many Canadians Would Like to See Restrictions on Abortion Procedures Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine ." (January 15, 2010). Angus Reid Public Opinion. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  18. Osborne, Danny; Huang, Yanshu; Overall, Nickola C.; Sutton, Robbie M.; Petterson, Aino; Douglas, Karen M.; Davies, Paul G.; Sibley, Chris G. (2022). "Abortion Attitudes: An Overview of Demographic and Ideological Differences". Political Psychology. 43: 29–76. doi:10.1111/pops.12803. hdl: 2292/59008 . ISSN   0162-895X. S2CID   247365991.
  19. "Split on Covering Abortion in Insurance Plans that Use Federal Subsidies [ permanent dead link ]." (January 14, 2010). Angus Reid Public Opinion. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  20. The Polling Report. (2006). Retrieved January 11, 2006.
  21. The Polling Report. (2008). Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  22. See Saad, "Americans Walk the Middle Road on Abortion," The Gallup Poll Monthly (April 2000); Gallup Poll Topics from Florida Right to Life. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
  23. It's time to come clean on abortion debate Archived 13 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine , emilyslist.org.au. (1 February 2005). Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  24. 1 2 Katherine, Betts (2004). "Attitudes to Abortion in Australia: 1972 to 2003" (PDF). People and Place. 12 (4).
  25. Katehrine, Betts (2009). "Betts, Katharine. "Attitudes to abortion: Australia and Queensland in the twenty-first century" (PDF). People and Place. 17 (3).
  26. "Views on Changing the Law on Abortion in Argentina" (PDF). Belden Russonello Strategists LLC. October 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  27. "58% da população rejeita liberação da prática do aborto, mostra PoderData - 08/01/2021 - Site - Poder360". www.poder360.com.br/. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  28. "Chile's abortion reform in trouble with ruling coalition split". The Guardian. Reuters. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  29. "Social Attitudes on Moral Issues in Latin America". 13 November 2014.
  30. "El 65 % del país le dice sí al aborto legal". ElEspectador.com. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-28. (in Spanish)
  31. "Uruguayans Support Legalizing Abortion [ permanent dead link ]. (June 1, 2007). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
  32. Bruce, Tricia (August 13, 2020). "Efficacy, Distancing, and Reconciling: Religion and Race in Americans' Abortion Attitudes". Religions. 11 (9): 2. doi: 10.3390/rel11090475 .
  33. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. (October 5, 2006). Spirit and Power: A 10-Country Survey of Pentecostals. Retrieved February 13, 2007.
  34. "Religious Landscape Study". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved 2024-04-13.
  35. Center, Pew Research (2022-03-02). "2. Son preference and abortion". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  36. "Religious Landscape Study".
  37. "Religious Landscape Study".
  38. Elif, Topcu; Ramirez, Atziri; Akaninyene, Ubom (September 11, 2023). "A global study on the abortion views and knowledge of trainee obstetrician-gynecologists". International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 163 (2): 453–460. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.15119 . PMID   37694673.
  39. Doctors Struggle With Tougher-Than-Ever Dilemmas: Other Ethical Issues Author: Leslie Kane. 11/11/2010
  40. Frederiksen, Brittni (June 21, 2023). "A National Survey of OBGYNs' Experiences After Dobbs". KFF.org. Retrieved December 6, 2023.