Missionaries of the Sacred

The reasons women give for having an abortion vary considerably. However, relatively few women cite physical health problems as the reason compared to other factors such as dramatic changes to their life, inability to afford a child or not wanting to be a single mother. Consider the following statistics from research conducted in 2004.⁴ Note: for the statistics given below, women were allowed to choose more than one reason.

• 74% said that having a baby would dramatically change their life (in the areas of education, employment and other dependents)
  
• 73% said that they couldn't afford a baby at the time
• 48%  said that they did not want to be a single mother or were having relationship problems

The reasons above are general categories. Let us explore a few more specific reasons.

• 38% of women said that having a baby would interfere with their education.
• 38% of women said that having a baby would interfere with their job/employment/career
• 38% said that they had completed their childbearing
• 28% said they couldn't afford a baby or child care
• 25% said that they didn't want people to know that they had sex or got pregnant
• 22% cited unemployment as a reason for having an abortion
• 21% said that they could not leave their job to take care of a baby
• 21% said that they cannot afford the basic needs of life
• 19% said they were unsure of their relationship
• 14% said that their husband or partner wanted them to have an abortion
• 12% of women cited physical problems with their health
• 11% said that their relationship or marriage may break up soon
• 6% said their parents wanted them to have an abortion
• 2% cited an abusive partner or husband
• 1% said that they were a victim of rape