Re: A serious and a not-so serious abortion question

[Yoshie Furuhashi <critical.montages@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 9/30/06, Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I wonder how many women abort babies because of
> exposure to toxic chemicals?  Are
> there any figures on this?

Very few, probably.

Most Important Reason Given for Terminating an Unwanted Pregnancy

Concern for/responsibility to other individuals   74%
Cannot afford a baby now                                 73%
A baby would interfere with school/
employment/ability to care for dependents        69%
Would be a single parent/
having relationship problems                             48%
Has completed childbearing                              38%

Reasons for Abortions After 16 Weeks Since Last Menstrual Period

Woman did not realize she was pregnant       71%
Difficulty making arrangements for abortion   48%
Afraid to tell parents or partner                       33%
Needed time to make decision                        24%
Hoped relationship would change                     8%
Pressure not to have abortion                           8%
Something changed during pregnancy              6%
Didn't know timing was important                      6%
Didn't know she could get an abortion               5%
Fetal abnormality diagnosed late                       2%
Other                                                                11%
Source: Torres and Forrest, 1988  (1987 data)

Only 11.4% of abortions take place after 12 weeks of gestation.

It is safe to say that women abort fetuses without finding out if they
are abnormal, given their stated reasons and timings of abortions.

The above stats are from Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health
(PRCH) and the Guttmacher Institute, "An Overview of Abortion in the
United States," May, 2006
<http://www.prch.org/med_ed/slides_07_05.ppt>.

> I wonder if right to life fanatics would mind if women
> eliminated unwanted pregnancies by taking jobs
> in toxic workplaces?

They would love to "protect fetuses" from toxic workplaces by banning
women from them altogether, having women who work at toxic workplace
undergo mandatory pregnancy tests, or prosecuting women for
endangering fetuses by choosing to work in toxic workplaces.

--
Yoshie
<http://montages.blogspot.com/>
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