New Poll Shows More People Support Abortion Very Strongly
New research by MORI's Social Research Institute shows that two-thirds (65%) of people in Great Britain agree that if a woman wants an abortion she should not have to continue with her pregnancy. Around one in six disagree and a similar proportion are neutral or express no opinion on this issue.
The results of this research support previous findings that show that the public distinguishes sharply among different circumstances under which it should be possible for a woman to obtain a legal abortion. Approval levels of abortion are highest where there is evidence that the child will be born with serious physical disabilities (70%) and they are lowest where a woman does not want to have a child although in this circumstance half of the population (50%) support access to abortion. Abortion where the woman is under 16, or where there is evidence that the child would be born with serious learning difficulties, is approved of by just under two-thirds of respondents (64%) in both cases.
Compared with a 1997 MORI Poll, this research shows that approval levels have risen in three of four circumstances. The highest rise is where a woman does not want to have a child, when approval levels have risen by eight points to 50% in 2001 (42% in 1997).
This new MORI research illustrates notable differences in agreement on the issue of a woman continuing her pregnancy by social class, levels of qualification and newspaper readership. Social classes ABC1 are more likely than C2DEs to agree that women should not have to continue with their pregnancy if they want an abortion (70% compared to 60%). Those who read broadsheet newspapers are more likely to agree than those who read tabloid newspapers (73% compared to 64%). In addition, those respondents with the most qualifications are more inclined to agree than are those with no qualifications (74% of those with A Levels of equivalent and 72% of those with a degree or a higher qualification agree, compared with 57% of those without any formal qualifications.)
Ann Furedi BPAS spokesperson said:
"It is not surprising that support for abortion is so high given that a third of women will have one at some time in their lives. Abortion is now part of mainstream reproductive health care. People increasingly see it as an essential back up to contraception. The debate now is not whether abortion should be available but how women's need for it can best be met. The law and public policy should reflect this."
Technical details
At the request of BPAS, MORI surveyed 2,006 adults on its Omnibus between 4 and 9 October 2001. Interviews were carried out using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) face-to-face in respondents homes. Data have been weighted to reflect the national population profile. For further information contact Michele Corrado or Anna Carluccio on 020-7347 3000.
The following data are taken from a poll commissioned from MORI by the British Pregnancy Advisory Services in the year 2001.
BPAS is a registered charity established in 1968 to provide a high quality, affordable, abortion service for women in Britain. BPAS currently carries out almost 48,000 abortions a year. This figure represents 27% of abortions in Britain - 38% of which are privately paid for procedures and 60% at specialist clinics paid for by the NHS.
If a woman wants an abortion, she should not have to continue with her pregnancy
| 160 | % |
| Agree very strongly | 19 |
| Agree strongly | 15 |
| Agree | 31 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 15 |
| Disagree | 7 |
| Disagree strongly | 4 |
| Disagree very strongly | 6 |
| No opinion | 3 |
Do you approve or disapprove of abortion under the following circumstances
| 160 | Approve | Disapprove | Don't know | |||
| 160 | % | % | % | % | % | % |
| 160 | 1997 | 2001 | 1997 | 2001 | 1997 | 2001 |
| Where the woman is under 16 | 58 | 64 | 29 | 20 | 13 | 15 |
| Where there is evidence that the child would be born with serious learning difficulties that used to be known as 'mental handicap' | 67 | 64 | 20 | 21 | 13 | 15 |
| Where there is evidence that the child would be born with serious physical disabilities | 66 | 70 | 21 | 15 | 13 | 15 |
| Where a woman does not wish to have a child | 42 | 50 | 46 | 33 | 12 | 16 |
ABORTION IN ENGLAND AND WALES
|
THE LAW The Abortion Act of 1967 permits termination of pregnancy by a registered practitioner in England or Wales subject to certain conditions: The continuance of the pregnancy would
Or in emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary:
|
During 2000, there were 175,542 legal registered abortions in England and Wales, representing an abortion rate of 16.18 per 1,000 women. Just over 31,5000 of these abortions were for women who were married.
The gestational age for these abortions were:
| Under nine weeks | 75,908 |
| 9-12 weeks | 79,000 |
| 13-19 weeks | 18,079 |
| 20 weeks and over | 2,555 |
The providers of these abortions were:
| National Health Service | 81,074 |
| NHS agency | 50,400 |
| Non-NHS | 44,068 |
The women's age at time of termination were:
| Under 15 | 1,048 | 160 | 30-34 | 28,735 |
| 15 | 2,700 | 35-39 | 18,589 | |
| 16-19 | 33,218 | 40-44 | 5,794 | |
| 20-24 | 47,099 | 45 + | 459 | |
| 25-29 | 37,852 | 160 | ||
Source: Abortion Statistics 2000, AB No 27, 2000
